Katie Price has expressed deep concerns for her son Harvey's health as his weight has surged to nearly 30 stone, raising fears about the risk of heart attacks. Harvey, 22, who lives with the rare genetic disorder Prader-Willi syndrome, struggles with excessive appetite, learning difficulties, and behavioral issues. His condition is compounded by other health challenges, including an underactive thyroid, partial blindness, autism, and epto-optic dysplasia, which affects his brain and eyes.
On Sunday, April 20, 2025, Price took to Snapchat to share her heartbreak over Harvey's weight gain, revealing that he now weighs 188 kg, which is just a few kilos shy of 30 stone. "I'm so heartbroken and gutted that his weight is just going up. I just googled it in stones – 188kg. He's literally a few kilos off being 30 stone," she lamented. Price emphasized the life-threatening implications of Harvey's weight, stating, "It's so life-threatening for him now. I'm still waiting for the doctors to get back to me to start him on the Mounjaro and his journey to a healthy life."
Mounjaro, the brand name for tirzepatide, is a prescription weight-loss treatment administered through weekly injections. Clinical trials have shown it to be more effective than Ozempic, another weight-loss medication. Price explained the urgency of the situation, saying, "It's so sad his quality of life at the moment where he's so big, he just can't really do much. It's just another thing I have to deal with because he's at high risk of having a heart attack, he struggles to put on his trainers, he struggles to walk anywhere but I love him and I'm going to help him through this."
In February, Price had mentioned that Harvey was starting a course of Ozempic after consulting with his doctors. She revealed that the doctors advised he might need to take the injections for up to two years. "He's putting on weight. It doesn't matter what we do. So the doctors are doing it to give him a better, longer life, and for his health," she explained. The treatment plan aims to manage Harvey's weight, which has been a significant concern for Price.
Price's worries extend beyond Harvey's health to his emotional well-being. Recently, she shared her heartache over taking him back to his residential college in Cheltenham after a two-week stay at home. Harvey, who requires round-the-clock care due to his complex health conditions, was visibly upset about returning to college. "When I took him back to college, it broke my heart. He just so didn't want to go and I said, 'We have to go back to get your meds Harv,' and as we were getting near it he was going, 'Mum, Harvey's so sad. I'm so angry,'" Price recounted during her podcast, The Katie Price Show.
Harvey's emotional outbursts have become a growing concern for Price. She described a moment when he tried to kick the car door in frustration and expressed his anger at being away from home. "He just hates it there and I hate it but then I've had him for two weeks on tour I need a bit of a [break] as well, do you know what I mean?" she shared.
Katie Price's determination to improve Harvey's living situation is evident as she plans to move him to a facility closer to her home in Sussex. The current college, which costs around £350,000 a year, is a three-hour drive away, making it difficult for her to visit regularly. The new facility is expected to be ready by next month, May 2025, and will be just a 25-minute drive from her home. "We're just waiting for it to finish – the build – it should be next month now because it's a brand new... They're doing the whole place, you know what it's like on a building site things go on longer. He's just outgrown, just does not want to be there," she explained.
Price hopes that the new environment will be more suitable for Harvey, allowing him to feel more at home. "When he moves to the new place, I can't wait. It's literally one stop [on the] train away and he's literally up the road – 25 minute, half an hour drive. I think the fact that it's his own place and it won't be like, when I say clinical kind of thing, because when he's at college he has to have special furniture and all of this there, in case he breaks... But this new one I'm gonna make a home from home – proper sofa, not constructed, special furniture, like, you know a proper bed that hasn't got padding on," she said.
Despite the challenges, Price remains optimistic about Harvey's future. She believes that with the right support and treatment, he can lead a healthier and more fulfilling life. "I can't imagine Harvey in two years when he's started Mounjaro and has lost a lot of weight," she said, expressing hope for a positive transformation.
As Price navigates the complexities of caring for her son, she acknowledges the emotional toll it takes. "He's worse than a newborn. He's worse than a toddler. It's full-on as you know, constant," she admitted. Yet, she also finds immense joy in being a mother to Harvey, stating, "I love my Harvey Price. As much as I say Harvey is hard work, it's a hard work I wouldn't want to be without. It's very rewarding."
As the journey continues for both Katie Price and her son Harvey, the challenges they face highlight the importance of support, understanding, and compassion for those with complex health needs.
