London inquest links student death to weight loss drug

An inquest in London has linked the death of 19-year-old Josephine Nasr to a popular weight loss injection containing tirzepatide. Nasr, a California native studying law at the University of East London, was found dead in her dormitory in September 2025.

While the drug was not identified as the direct cause of death, investigators concluded it likely triggered a fatal chain of events. The inquest heard that the medication may have caused nausea and vomiting, leading to hypoglycemia and an electrolyte imbalance. This imbalance likely induced a fatal cardiac arrhythmia, a condition potentially exacerbated by a congenital heart anomaly known as myocardial bridging discovered during her autopsy.

Nasr had been prescribed the medication by a doctor in California during the summer of 2025. Although her body mass index indicated she was overweight, she was not classified as obese. An empty vial of the treatment was recovered from her room following a welfare check by university security and medical staff.