Labour should invest in weight loss medications immediately

My adult DS is one of those who eats mainly junk and is like a rake. I worry for him. I did my best when he was growing up to help him eat a healthy diet. Very very limited McDonald's etc, home cooked meals. But when he became more independent he chose all the sweet, fatty, UPFs anyway, and I have no say.

He's probably fat on the inside and I hope he starts to look more at his health before he gets any food related diseases.

I on the other hand eat for health and am obese.

@MultiplaLight its also nit hard to be nice and not a judgemental person and assume you know someones story or lifestyle, rather be overweight than a not nice person. Its views about weight that also send people the other way and cause eating disorders, one remark can sometimes be enough.

True but you can eat less of the fishfingers and chips and still lose weight in a calorie deficit, and fill your plate with some fresh veg, which really is very cheap (or some frozen veg). In principle I agree healthy food is more expensive but you need a calorie deficit to lose weight, not expensive food. You also don’t need to go to a gym, walking is sufficient to burn more calories or plenty of workouts on YouTube

@Ereyraa clearly someone who has know idea about obesity and just assume anyone who is overweigh stuffs donuts just for fun. Many skinny people can actually be unhealthy they just don’t gain the weight so it doesn’t show on the outside. Genetics is being looked at more and more , two people with the same activity level and age can need vastly different calories to maintain, if one needs 2000 the other 1200 its going to be much harder for one. Poverty and money have a huge amount of impact as well, you can buy a frozen bag of chips and fishfingers say for £3-4 and get several family meals out of it. Cooking a healthy more nutritious meal is often a lot more expensive. A punnet of strawberries is around £1.80 a multipack value crisp around £1 etc, when people have a limited income they often have to buy what will feed them and last the week. Cant afford a gym membership or even time to fit much in whilst doing 2 jobs and young children etc
its so narrow minded and judgemental to just assume someones situation and a pretty ugly trait to look down on others and assume you know their story.
mumsner is full of such judgemental people when it comes to weight
also as others have said menopause can really affect weight gain in some, I really do hope it affects some of these self righteous ones on here so they can see how hard it is for some daily.and they might actually then understand its not so easy.

It's not about the people who have been on steroids (small percentage). It's about the majority of people who are overweight and looking for someone else to blame but themselves. Most overweight people could, with hard work, will power and education and lose weight.

Personally for me I think the medication is working on my non diabetic insulin resistance amongst other things. I didn't think the other benefits of this drug were even a thing but it's truly a miracle and should be (in my opinion) available to all no matter your finances. I've seen other mumsnetters come off morphine for chronic pain and all because of these drugs. I think as these additional benefits are recognised in NHS, people who don't want them to be funded will be disappointed. My doctor expects it to be in the next five years but I couldn't wait that long for my own health.

Outdoor gym equipment is in a lot of parks nowadays and walking is free. Unless there is a medical condition or disability the majority of overweight people are obese because of gluttony and poor food choices.

Why should we pay for their weight loss medication and surgery, they are already a drain on the NHS.

I’m 47, peri menopausal and I know how hard it is to lose weight. I have to eat less than what it says to lose, and it’s hard work. Really hard work. For most people a true calorie deficit works. Sometimes it takes longer to kick in. The medication surely works on the same principle, you’re eating less than you burn, but obviously have help with the hunger. I’m sure there are some people who are exceptions to the science but for the majority a true calorie deficit works

WRONG! So wrong! That's all I can say to this.
I've near on starved myself before weight loss drugs. It certainly was not working.
I hope you find out the hard way one day.

Exactly. Calorie deficit diet works, it’s not that difficult to do, but does require willpower. Like any diet if you start eating more than you’re burning off you’re going to gain again. I do all the time, as I’m short and my daily calorie maintenance is only around 1500 without exercise. But I know when I get to a certain weight (the border of being overweight for my height, and clothes are tight) I go on a diet. I don’t expect the government to pay for me not to feel hungry. You naturally feel less hungry after a few weeks in a deficit anyway without pumping your body with these drugs and all the side effects

There are some who have skinny genetics. I have a friend who is one of them. We've been friends for fourty odd years. She eats some utter crap and then there's me trying my utmost. She can't and never will understand but she doesn't judge as she's seen with her own eyes how my genetics and medical issues have affected my weight gain. Some of you should re educate yourselves and think yourselves very lucky rather than think you're better than someone who has had a life long struggle.

@AelitaQueenofMars there is also studies looking at genetics and other reasons. Some people can just generally eat more than the next
now I am older i have to sit around 1300 calories just to maintain.

This is exactly my thinking. Or if they get put on steroids or another med that causes weight gain. It's karma to be honest and I hope it does come for them.

Rather be overweight than be a person that judges a d looks down on others to be honest. Easy to be nice

Yep…when peri and menopause hits I hope some of these posters will be thinking back to what they wrote on this thread. Be warned some of you, you won’t like what’s going to hit you once you reach your forties and fifties…

@MultiplaLight there are numerous issues why people become overweight, it takes time to become a self righteous dick as well, but many people on mums net manage to perfect it quite well.
disgusting attitude on here towards overweight people, but some of those can loose weight but those that look on others often continue life like that, whilst not being so perfect themselves. Rather be

@Cooper77 what a narrow minded view, in that case we shouldn’t treat those who smokes ot vape, anyone who drinks more then the recommended units of alcohol, someone who has an accident if they were driving too fast, someone who falls off a horse or injures themselves doing something that is not necessary ? Someone who is underweight , the list goes on.

Maybe the government should tax the manufacturers of UPFs and put the money into offering these drugs. They're not just helping with weight loss. There are so many other benefits.

I think something like the British equivalent of the Japanese Metabo Law could work and there are existing data from Japan to analyse the impact.
It’s clear that people expect the government to sort their eating habits for them so it is a top-down, functioning solution that doesn’t completely remove personal agency.

Someone on Mumsnet mentioned Secret Eaters on another thread and I watched a couple of episodes on Youtube. It’s quite eye opening for someone who doesn’t live in the UK what people consider healthy, good eating habits, reasonable portions and how far the definition of a vegetable can stretch. I don’t think injections can sort these attitudes, long or short term.

I'm on mounjaro. I've tried my whole life to lose weight and I have done many times successfully. I know what I should eat to be healthy and I can cook. However my "food noise" is extreme and particularly now I'm older, my body will not allow me to lose weight and keep it off. Say what you like but it's the absolute truth. I've medical conditions and medications that exacerbate this. I've also got lipodema. My diet now consists of three smaller healthy meals per day with no snacks and I've mounjaro to thank for helping me silence my food noise, help me feel fuller and make healthy choices. Yes some people are using it to eat the same old rubbish but less of it and they will likely be the ones who do not change their ways and regain the weight.

Mounjaro has changed my life already in just one month. My lipodema is improving, my debilitating migraines have literally gone, my depression and anxiety are significantly better, my back and joint pain is improving and I've lost a moderate amount of weight which for me is a lot as I would lose a pound and gain 5! I was also pre diabetic and on track for a heart attack. So the NHS will be saving just on the meds they won't have to give me now!

As per my user name I feel this is my last and only chance to make a change to my health. I am fortunate I can just about scrape the money together and it's worth every penny, but I feel for those who have been denied this on the NHS (like I was) but can't afford it.

So to the clearly ignorant people I say this. Don't judge until you've been there. Eat less move more is not working for some people and when you've had the mental effects of trying your hardest, eating well and exercising but gaining weight, then you can comment. Some of you will find exactly this when you reach menopause so look forward to it my loves because you will hopefully remember how unkind and judgemental you were on this thread.

Yes, but even under the current system, you will get help from the NHS for the results of those addictions - like lung cancer treatment, liver cirrhosis treatment, or emergency treatment for drug overdoses. So treating obesity which (in some cases) is the result of food addiction, is arguably the same.

Yes, you'd notice a pound a week after a month and stop eating 500kcal a day too much at that point.

Theoretically yes. However if we all keep an eye on our health and weight we can stop that in its tracks well before we’ve put on nearly 4stone.

Better work life balance so people can scratch cook better food.

I can only speak for myself, but I feel guilty using up tax payers money on a problem that I Have caused myself. I have joint problems which are possibly exacerbated by weight, and I am waiting until my BMI is below 23 before self referring to physio as I feel guilty taking up space on a waiting list that someone more deserving could use. As far as the injections go, once again, I got myself into this state, therefore I don't deserve to have things made easier.
Also,I worry that if it is too easy for me then I may be tempted to not keep the weight off, whereas if I know that I have suffered to lose the weight I will be more determined to keep if off.
I know that some might say that this is not a healthy attitude towards dieting, but I find that "positive self talk"doesn't work for me, whereas I can use my negative welf image almost as a tool for weight loss. Your milage may vary however, and I would not recommend this to others,just for myself.