Is this going to open a floodgate - weight loss jabs for unemployed

So you don't agree with medical trials?

I have noticed on MN there is a puritanical attitude to these jabs. It is as if the only acceptable way to lose weight is through diet and exercise and the weight loss jabs are "cheating".

Obesity is a problem for all of us, whatever our weight, because of the strain on the NHS and the misery it causes to people. If these injections help that, then it's all good.

@ThatRareUmberJoker

It could affect their PIP if they say no to getting well.

No it won't. People cannot be forced to take a weight loss drug any more than they can be forced to take an anti depressant or any other form of medication. Pip is not dependent on you agreeing to medicate. It's about how your condition affects you. Rather ironically there are many people whose mental health stops them from being able to take medication, should they just lose their PIP?

You literally have no idea what you're talking about and cant even make a consistent argument

Embarrassed for you (as they say)

Unlikely.

There are plenty of people currently claiming benefits because of mental health conditions, who are either choosing not to medicate, or psychiatry has simply given up attempting to medicate them because nothing they have tried provides any benefit. Nobody is threatening to withdraw these people's benefits.

Those are risks not feelings.

How exactly do you think people sell a single prescription item online? It isn’t an eBay or Etsy product. So whilst it is a possibility it isn’t a very likely one.

As to people tipping the scales into obesity to go on the sick to maybe get on a limited trial - again how likely do you think this is?

The people in the trial will be carefully selected and monitored because it is a trial. They won’t be taken out of an unemployment office in greater Manchester.

It was said on the Today programme just now that Wes Streeting is saying the unemployed won’t be prioritised for the injections which begs the question why they were mentioned at all.

Surely anyone who wants the injections should qualify regardless of their job status and surely GPs should offer them to their patients who are obese as an option to lose weight? Here starts the rhetoric that the obese are feckless and unproductive. I find the whole thing obscene actually.

Do you understand what "slow rollout" means? It has nothing to do with available stock and everything to do with trust policy. It takes months/years to roll anything out in the NHS. I was part of several rollouts and it involves endless meetings about meetings, identifying inclusion/exclusion criteria, recruitment and training, measuring preliminary outcomes and writing proposals for commissioners. It's not as simple as ordering something from a drug company.
And all of that work is done in addition to doing clinical hours. We don't have separate "rollout teams" which would make the process much faster.

They'll stop the treatment for anyone not responding to it, it doesnt fit everyone, some may have side effects they feel they cant tolerate, some might not respond to it and not lose weight. They wont carry on prescribing in those circumstances.

It’s a trial so designed to test effectiveness and, I suppose, value for money. That seems sensible, but what will happen when people stop taking it? They’ll need to put a lot of work into building longer term healthy patterns. If this works, it could have a very positive impact not only on individuals, but on their families too.

They will be seen as a problem most probably. It could affect their PIP if they say no to getting well.

Wrong

Yes god forbid our taxes are used to help people - let’s get back to using them to line our mates pockets instead 🙄

No.

Instead carry on propping up a broken NHS, and buckling welfare state?

really? You that shortsighted?

Mixed feelings.

If it will save the NHS money then great.

But I am sad we are going to be paying for this when we can’t afford to give proper treatment for mental health conditions. Perhaps the money saved will help with that but who knows.

More broadly it’s sad that as a society we have got into this state with so many people obese that their weight has to be artificially controlled drugs rather than fixing the root causes. It’s somewhat dystopian.

And poverty. This is probably easier than sorting that though.

So that's not what you said. You said they were struggling to supply diabetics. Then you link to an article not about diabetics. And that's wegovy, not mounjaro.

I think this is a good idea but wondering about people in work who would qualify. Will they be offered it too. I just think it’s sad we are here needing this type of thing. I think society is a bit broken. Everyone rushes around no time to cook proper and nutritious meals (yes I know there are some meals that are quick and easy and cheap but on the whole it does take a bit of effort), screens addiction (I count myself in that) two people needing to work full time to afford rent or mortgage. Cost of living crisis for good quality food. Funding for parks and green spaces being cut where I am. Facilities taken away. Miserable weather but only really expensive indoor options (eg one indoor tennis court in our city that costs a small fortune to hire). I don’t know what the answer is but feel we are on a bad path we’re now medicating our way out of. I think for these people quality of life this seems like a positive step.

Is this to be given to people who say their obesity means they cannot work?

Many years ago I wrote my dissertation on poverty and obesity. The barriers someone without much money has in order to try and eat healthily is massive compared to people with more money. From simple things like the cost of lean mince being more than higher fat mince, a bag of chips is cheaper to buy than preparing a meal, not being able to afford gas, not owning saucepans. A very complex subject that most people don't understand.

I think it's unfair the cost of these medications to anyone, and the amount of profit that are made off overweight people who are trying to get it under control. Giving it for free when it costs over £200 is a tad galling I'd assume if you're paying for it to not be in the position that your weight negatively impacts your health.

A floodgate to allow a tide of deeply unhealthy people to try and grasp back control and recover some of their health before it costs the NHS a fortune? Good!

I wish also there were more stringent controls in the crap manufacturers can put in food, and some kind of boost to make wholefoods and fresh fruit and veg cheaper.