Interview with Eirik Rud Iversen, Norway, OI Type 3

How did you lose weight? OIFE Magazine has asked this question to four people with OI who have struggled with overweight and successfully managed to lose weight. One of them is Eirik Rud Iversen. He is from Norway and 37 years old. He has OI type 3, works as an IT supporter, and lost weight using weight-loss drugs.

Tell us about your situation before the weight loss and what kind of problems you had.

I probably gained weight gradually over the past decade or so, but during Covid it got out of control like it did for most people. I am about 120 cm tall, and at my peak I was about 53 kg. My health went downhill quickly, and I had to start my day taking painkillers just to get through it.

I was not able to sit more than a few hours at a time, and I would get exhausted when doing simple tasks like moving from my indoor chair to my Permobil, or from bed to chair.

My real wake-up call came when I had an activity planned for a whole week which required me to sit for about 8 to 10 hours a day, but I had to cancel it after the first day because I just could not do it. It was very demoralizing seeing how bad shape I was in. I thought to myself, “If this is how it is now, what is it going to be like in two, five, or ten years?”

What did you do to lose weight?

I had heard about Ozempic through the media and asked my general physician if this was an option. He agreed right away, as he had already told me that I needed to lose weight. Within 10 minutes I had the prescription.

I started, and still am, on the lowest dosage, which works fine for me. I also count calories, as people of our stature and activity level do not have much “room to go on”, so choices must be made. Counting calories is not for everyone, but it has worked for me to keep myself in line.

Ozempic and Wegovy are not miracle medicines. There is still a lot of individual responsibility. They simply make your hunger go down. I have been eating pretty much the same as before, just smaller portions and limiting my snacking and candy during the week. When you are responsible during the week, you can enjoy the weekend. I pay about €180 a month for the medicine, but it is 100% worth it.

How did it work?

Since I started two years ago, I have lost about 18 kg and am now at 35 kg. This has been the best decision I have ever made in terms of quality of life. My energy levels are up, I hardly take any painkillers anymore, and my clothes fit again. I have been very lucky not to have any side effects, but this differs from person to person.

Do you have any advice to others with OI who are struggling with weight?

I do not want to tell people what to do, but if you are struggling with your weight and health, I would look into the options available. Losing 10 to 15 kg around your waist, changes a lot. When we sit for so many hours every day, all that extra weight resting on your legs and back really takes a toll.

On a personal note, after my experiences, I really think people with disabilities should be made more aware of these options, as obesity is a big problem for people in wheelchairs. I also think more discussion about these issues is important, as weight in general can be stigmatized and hard to speak about.

We cannot just put on our running shoes or go to the gym, so having new and viable options for us is amazing in my opinion. This is not an easy way out. It is about improving your quality of life and health.

Interview done by Stefanie Wagner and Jacob Wittorff