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Original poster

Labour should invest in weight loss medications immediately

643 replies

HowToSaveTheNHS · 06/07/2024 11:49

AIBU to think the Labour government should seriously consider rolling out weight loss drugs to the obese population, to tackle obesity, diabetes and cut NHS waiting lists? Traditional public health measures to tackle obesity are not working.

We spend so much money treating disease associated with obesity and it’s only going to get worse as increasing numbers of people are living for decades with multiple health conditions associated with obesity. Even dementia’s leading cause is Type 2 diabetes.

Looking at the Mounjaro thread on here, huge numbers of Mumsnetters are successfully losing weight and improving their health. But people on lower incomes won’t have access because the drugs are expensive.

A course of drugs for a year will surely be money well spent if we can reduce heart disease/ diabetes/ dementia/ cancer etc… even hypertension.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
14
Ereyraa · 06/07/2024 19:38

HowToSaveTheNHS · 06/07/2024 19:37

Embarrassed when having a heart attack ? Are you serious?!

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Yes, embarrassed if your heart attack is caused by your obesity.

Not sure why you think this is shocking.

Original poster
HowToSaveTheNHS · 06/07/2024 19:37

Ereyraa · 06/07/2024 19:36

Again, why are people not embarrassed about this?

This is the issue with the NHS; free at the point of use means people have no incentive to have self-accountability

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Embarrassed when having a heart attack ? Are you serious?!

OP posts:
LadyKenya · 06/07/2024 19:37

Ereyraa · 06/07/2024 19:31

Why does ‘everyone’ have to pay for a problem that ‘we will all’ be better off under, when it’s caused by a very select few?

Imagine not being embarrassed that other people have to fund your inability to not stuff things in your gob

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It is not just a very select few, though is it? If it was then there would not be all this discussion about it.

Fangisnotacoward · 06/07/2024 19:36

I'd rather put a tax on fatty processed food and use the proceeds to directly subsidise fruit and veg.

A punnet of strawberries costs about 2.50, tub of ice cream 1.99. If you are buying dessert for a family of 4, and on a budget, what's going to go further...

Ereyraa · 06/07/2024 19:36

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

bakewellbride · 06/07/2024 19:36

@HowToSaveTheNHS I'm sure it is difficult but it's not impossible. Giving up smoking is hard, conquering phobias is hard. Lots of things in life are very hard. Will power and education would be better than drugs surely.

Ereyraa · 06/07/2024 19:36

HowToSaveTheNHS · 06/07/2024 19:34

Because you are paying to treat them for heart disease, diabetes, dementia….

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Again, why are people not embarrassed about this?

This is the issue with the NHS; free at the point of use means people have no incentive to have self-accountability

HowIrresponsible · 06/07/2024 19:35

HowToSaveTheNHS · 06/07/2024 19:32

It really is difficult if you have full blown obesity. Just be thankful you’ve not experienced it. Speak to a gastric surgeon and they’ll help you understand how difficult/ borderline impossible it is to override your body’s desire to eat once you’re struggling with full blown obesity. I don’t think those of us who have never experienced it will truly understand. It is NOT the same as losing a bit of excess weight.

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I don't know how I'd eat enough to make myself that size in the first place.

It was a choice to do it.

I don't want tax payers money spent on this and nor do most people.

Original poster
HowToSaveTheNHS · 06/07/2024 19:35

Anklespraying · 06/07/2024 19:26

I'm in a Mounjaro Facebook group and lot's of people there are nurses.

I’m not surprised. Shift work is linked with obesity

OP posts:
Original poster
HowToSaveTheNHS · 06/07/2024 19:34

Ereyraa · 06/07/2024 19:31

Why does ‘everyone’ have to pay for a problem that ‘we will all’ be better off under, when it’s caused by a very select few?

Imagine not being embarrassed that other people have to fund your inability to not stuff things in your gob

Edited
Show quote history

Because you are paying to treat them for heart disease, diabetes, dementia….

OP posts:
Original poster
HowToSaveTheNHS · 06/07/2024 19:32

HowIrresponsible · 06/07/2024 19:19

Yup!

It is not difficult to stay a healthy weight contrary to this thread.

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It really is difficult if you have full blown obesity. Just be thankful you’ve not experienced it. Speak to a gastric surgeon and they’ll help you understand how difficult/ borderline impossible it is to override your body’s desire to eat once you’re struggling with full blown obesity. I don’t think those of us who have never experienced it will truly understand. It is NOT the same as losing a bit of excess weight.

OP posts:
Ereyraa · 06/07/2024 19:31

HowToSaveTheNHS · 06/07/2024 19:29

Yes completely agree- we need to trial, collect evidence and evaluate. Keeping moral judgement out of it and look at the evidence. We will all be better off if we can reduce the amount we spend managing ill health caused by obesity

Show quote history

Why does ‘everyone’ have to pay for a problem that ‘we will all’ be better off under, when it’s caused by a very select few?

Imagine not being embarrassed that other people have to fund your inability to not stuff things in your gob

Original poster
HowToSaveTheNHS · 06/07/2024 19:29

Sondheimisademigod · 06/07/2024 17:58

And @HowToSaveTheNHS , investment carries risk, which is massive in the NHS. In fact, as a health economist, you'll know that the nhs was established on the basis the good, preventative public health was also introduced. Hospitals were to there for surgery and really poorly.
Well yes, p h is much better than in 1948, but you must agree, that sociologically and psychologically, when something is free, it is valued initially, then taken for granted, as the nhs and p h is now.
Smoking, drinking and sti rates are not brilliant, and despite increasing the price of tobacco and alcohol, it is not a deterrant, even to those who can afford it least. P H messages about their effects don't work.

So, it's not as simple as invest and save when individuals are involved, particularly as those that would 'benefit' from the drugs represent a small per centage of the 'obese' population, and thus a smalker per centage of the overall population

Yes completely agree- we need to trial, collect evidence and evaluate. Keeping moral judgement out of it and look at the evidence. We will all be better off if we can reduce the amount we spend managing ill health caused by obesity

OP posts:
Anklespraying · 06/07/2024 19:26

I'm in a Mounjaro Facebook group and lot's of people there are nurses.

Bride2Be25 · 06/07/2024 19:24

Absolutely not !!! It is not the tax payers responsibility to fund weight loss drugs nor is it the Government’s!

People just have no accountability these days, if you want to loose weight and can’t do it through diet and exercise then you should pay for weight loss drugs yourself.

HowIrresponsible · 06/07/2024 19:19

Ereyraa · 06/07/2024 19:14

God, if you keep yourself healthy, watch your weight, work hard and feed your own kids yourself, you’re really fucked under this government, if some have their way.

Yup!

It is not difficult to stay a healthy weight contrary to this thread.

Startingagainandagain · 06/07/2024 19:16

'@BeretRaspberry
Oh look, the latest fat bashing thread.'

It really is not 'fat bashing' to point out that for many people the solution to losing weight is better diet and exercise and less alcohol.

It is just basic facts...

This is also the advice you would receive from a GP or dietitian.

Fo some of course it will be more complex where there are psychological issues or the weight is a side effect from a health condition/medication.

But for many it really is down to lifestyle and only the individual can decide to take steps to improve that.

Ereyraa · 06/07/2024 19:14

God, if you keep yourself healthy, watch your weight, work hard and feed your own kids yourself, you’re really fucked under this government, if some have their way.

BeretRaspberry · 06/07/2024 19:12

HowToSaveTheNHS · 06/07/2024 19:03

Even though obesity is the single largest burden on the NHS besides our ageing population, and is crippling it? We spend so much of the NHS budget treating diseases caused by obesity.

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No we don’t. We spend money treating diseases linked to obesity but that non obese people also get.

BeretRaspberry · 06/07/2024 19:11

HowIrresponsible · 06/07/2024 19:00

It's not fat bashing. If you're morbidly obese it's fucking dangerous to your health.

Maybe the problem exists as it's considered acceptable in a way it never should have been.

We can't possibly tell anyone something that might offend them now can we even if its true.

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It IS fat bashing. Every single week, if not more, we have have a thread like this where fat people are described as lazy.

Then there’s the faux concern. A person’s health has nothing to do with anyone else but them. As if fat people don’t know they’re fat FFS.

I’ve said before on these threads, I am fat, in fact I’m morbidly obese. And do you know why I’m fat? Because I tried for 2 whole decades to control my weight (even though I wasn’t overweight to start with). I then got an eating disorder as a result of trying to control my weight. Since ‘recovery’ (you never fully recover), I have a better relationship with food than I ever have. I eat more healthily, I don’t obsess, I don’t binge and I treat my body with kindness.

All these threads ever do is make fat people feel like shit. Like they’re the scourge of society. No one knows anyone else’s story, their history or what they’ve been through, so just feck off with your oh so righteous judgements.

Beekeepingmum · 06/07/2024 19:11

I think there needs to be consequences for people who don't manage their health sensibly. There is only a certain amount of money available so spending it on people who don't give a shit about their own health doesn't seem sensible. Weight it one of the things many people can self manage with some clear exceptions

Original poster
HowToSaveTheNHS · 06/07/2024 19:03

ApolloandDaphne · 06/07/2024 18:50

I'm a fat bastard but tbh I think there are other priorities the new government need to focus on finance wise.

Even though obesity is the single largest burden on the NHS besides our ageing population, and is crippling it? We spend so much of the NHS budget treating diseases caused by obesity.

OP posts:
HowIrresponsible · 06/07/2024 19:00

BeretRaspberry · 06/07/2024 18:53

Oh look, the latest fat bashing thread.

It's not fat bashing. If you're morbidly obese it's fucking dangerous to your health.

Maybe the problem exists as it's considered acceptable in a way it never should have been.

We can't possibly tell anyone something that might offend them now can we even if its true.

Original poster
HowToSaveTheNHS · 06/07/2024 18:56

solsticelove · 06/07/2024 18:21

The issue with weight loss drugs is they don’t get to the root of the problem.

We as a nation need to start looking at WHY obesity is such an issue and start there. As I see it, our whole mentality and culture around food has deteriorated over the last couple of decades. Fast food places are literally everywhere and are addictive, convenient and relatively inexpensive. To allow such crap to fill up our high streets, roadside service stations, malls, just about everywhere has been a disaster.

Weight loss drugs may lead to a decrease in demand for such food and places. The market would reorient to the food people want to eat. The alternative is government regulation and control, effectively making food/ establishments illegal or very expensive and out of reach. I’m not saying either one or right or wrong… just that there are either supply or demand policies. All of which have negative consequences too

OP posts:
MultiplaLight · 06/07/2024 18:54

I completely disagree OP.

Tax upf and make healthy food the cheapest option.

I do think the government shouldn't fund statins either. Some people have high cholesterol naturally, but majority is due to diet.

I also think people should be a bit more self responsible for low level MH problems. Eating well, exercise and good sleep hygiene should be the first port of call for us all.

It's a controversial opinion but we cannot keep relying on someone else to sort our shit out.