The NHS recently announced they will be prescribing Mounjaro to a select group of patients for obesity management. While I respect whatever safe and effective methods people choose to maintain a healthy weight, I can’t help but share a more unconventional—and much more enjoyable—alternative: attending Glastonbury Festival.
Over four days at the sprawling 1,500-acre festival, I was amazed to find myself losing weight almost accidentally. Why go to the gym when you can burn calories raving in a field? Here’s how it unfolded.
The popular advice to walk 10,000 steps a day isn’t rooted in medical science but originated as a marketing campaign back in the 1960s. In reality, your ideal daily step count varies based on your lifestyle. For some, two hours of intense exercise might reduce the need to hit that arbitrary number, while for others, especially those less active or with injuries, 10,000 steps can be a meaningful goal.
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At Glastonbury, walking was unavoidable—and rewarding. On my first day alone, I logged over 20,000 steps, spending 211 active minutes and burning around 626 calories according to my health app. Exploring the different areas—Shangri La, The Healing Fields, Avalon, Arcadia, The Park’s ribbon tower, and the quirky Unfairground—means you’re constantly on the move. If you want to get your money’s worth, bring sturdy walking shoes.
Despite soaring temperatures above 30°C on Sunday, I took every precaution: loose white clothing, a wide-brimmed hat, sunblock, even a parasol. I stayed hydrated with water and a refreshing, tangy apple juice from a local orchard, resting frequently in the shade.
The heat affected my appetite drastically. I managed just two boiled eggs for breakfast and half a chocolate bar for lunch—roughly 400 calories total, well below the recommended 2,000-calorie daily intake for women. Oddly, I didn’t feel hungry and was even put off by solid food. Later, forcing down some spinach and cheese pasta required serious willpower. While not ideal nutritionally, this appetite suppression combined with constant movement led to a significant calorie deficit.
This wasn’t just my experience. At Rod Stewart’s Sunday set, a man I approached for an interview declined, saying his voice was gone but kept dancing anyway. Another colleague reportedly danced until 5 a.m.—a serious early morning cardio session! Even during slower sets, like Lewis Capaldi’s emotional Friday night performance, simple arm waving meant staying active.
Of course, I can only speak for myself. By week’s end, I definitely felt lighter. That said, festival fun also comes with challenges: alcohol consumption and sleep deprivation can contribute to weight gain. Most attendees get only about four hours of sleep per night, which isn’t ideal.
Weather can also change the experience. Had it rained, I might have craved hearty hot meals instead of turning food away in the heat.
But this year, the sunny conditions combined with non-stop walking and dancing created a natural weight-loss regimen. In fact, the festival itself almost sounds like a medication name—“Glasto.” “Doctor prescribed me 5 mg of Glasto for my verrucas. Cleared right up.”
So if traditional weight loss methods aren’t your style, consider a weekend at Glastonbury—where the music is loud, the steps are many, and the pounds just melt away.