Denise Welch didn’t hide her irritation as the debate over weight-loss injections on Loose Women suddenly heated up. Amidst the live tension, she fired a blunt remark directly at Kaye Adams, leaving the studio stunned for a moment.

Loose Women star Denise Welch appeared to take a pointed swipe at her co-star Kaye Adams during a fiery and at times chaotic debate on the ITV daytime show, as tensions flared over the use of weight-loss injections. The heated exchange unfolded during Thursday’s episode of Loose Women, when the panel discussed a new study suggesting that people who stop using weight-loss injections such as Mounjaro and Wegovy regain weight at a much faster rate than those who lose weight through other means.

The discussion quickly became animated as Denise, 67, and Kaye, 63, repeatedly spoke over one another while attempting to defend their respective viewpoints. What began as a debate over medical evidence and long-term studies soon escalated into a personal clash, culminating in Denise making a sharp remark about Kaye’s appearance that left viewers divided.

Kicking off the segment, Denise argued that weight-loss injections should not be treated any differently from other medications and warned that all drugs come with potential side effects. She stressed that public fear around the injections was being blown out of proportion, particularly when compared to medications that people take every day without question.

“Listen, I’m not qualified, but I have read as much as anybody about the jabs,” Denise said. “There are more—everything’s got a side effect. If you read the side effects of paracetamol, you would be surprised at how many people die a week of the side effects of paracetamol.”

Before Denise could finish her point, Kaye interjected, pushing back on the comparison. She argued that paracetamol is supported by decades of long-term research, unlike newer weight-loss drugs. “Yeah, but paracetamol have long-term studies attached,” Kaye said. “I mean you have to say that about—”

Denise immediately cut her off, firing back that similar medications have been used safely for years in other contexts. “This has been used for diabetics for 30 years,” she insisted, referring to drugs that act on similar mechanisms as modern weight-loss injections.

Kaye responded by emphasizing that diabetes is a specific medical condition and that the context matters. She pointed out that the study being discussed was published in the British Medical Journal and involved thousands of participants, suggesting that its findings should not be dismissed lightly.

As the exchange grew increasingly tense, Denise interrupted again, drawing comparisons to the rollout of COVID vaccines. “Did you study the COVID jab when that came out?” she asked. “That hadn’t been out very long.”

Kaye acknowledged that there had indeed been controversy surrounding the COVID vaccine, prompting Denise to snap back, “Right, I had it,” cutting off her co-star once more. Kaye persisted, stating that the study involved 9,000 people and had been rigorously reviewed before publication in the BMJ.

Clearly frustrated, Denise doubled down on her position, arguing that such drugs would not be prescribed if they were unsafe, particularly given the potential benefits to the healthcare system. “There have been studies,” she said. “They are not going to give this drug, which is reducing the pressure on the NHS—”

Once again, Kaye interrupted, bluntly telling her co-star, “You can’t say studies, shmudies, Denise,” a remark that further inflamed the discussion.

Throughout the segment, the two women continued to clash, with Denise repeatedly dismissing Kaye’s concerns and accusing her of selectively believing research only when it criticized weight-loss injections. “No, but you’re believing that one because it’s against the weight-loss jab,” Denise said pointedly.

Joining the debate, fellow panellist Sunetra Sarker attempted to de-escalate the situation by reframing the issue. She suggested that weight regain is a common outcome whenever someone stops any form of weight-loss intervention. “But I think what we’re missing here is the fact that anything that reduces weight, which claims to be weight loss, if you stop doing it you are always going to put on weight,” she said.

Kaye disagreed, stressing that the study suggested people regain weight faster after stopping injections than with other methods. Denise immediately pushed back, accusing Kaye of inconsistency. “Yes, but you don’t want to believe the surveys, Kaye, because you just said that to me,” she argued.

Sunetra added that rapid weight regain is not unique to injections, citing common dieting experiences. “But you know what, that also happens,” she said. “You regain weight faster with other things. I have done the cabbage soup. We’ve all done the diets.”

It was at this point that Denise made the comment that sparked the strongest reaction from viewers. Turning toward Kaye, who appeared visibly unimpressed, Denise said bluntly, “You’re just thin! We haven’t been thin!” The remark was widely interpreted as a personal swipe, implying that Kaye’s perspective was shaped by her own body type rather than lived experience with weight struggles.

The moment immediately stood out, with some viewers applauding Denise for speaking candidly, while others accused her of crossing a line. Social media quickly lit up with reactions, reflecting the polarizing nature of the exchange.

One viewer defended Denise, writing that she was not being rude but simply passionate and informed about the topic. Another, however, criticized her behavior, saying she repeatedly shouted over her co-stars and showed a lack of respect during the discussion.

Despite the on-air clash, the segment highlighted the wider public debate surrounding weight-loss injections, long-term safety, and societal attitudes toward body image. While Denise and Kaye approached the issue from opposing angles, their heated exchange underscored how emotionally charged and complex the topic has become.

Loose Women continues to air weekdays on ITV1 and ITVX, and the explosive debate has ensured that this particular episode will be remembered by viewers long after it aired.