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Original poster

To think the NHS should not be cutting funding for Anorexia and EDs if they are going to be spending ££££ on weight loss jabs

286 replies

B00kThi3f · 10/03/2025 07:12

Anorexia and ED numbers are soaring. My daughter has battled the disease for 6 years. It kills far quicker than obesity and the sooner it is treated the better the outcome. During the last few years I have witnessed so many parents fighting for treatment and now in some severe cases patients are just being given palliative care.

Most areas are now planning cuts to specialist eating disorder services.

The fact we apparantly have ££££ to spend on weight loss jabs when children and young people are essentially being left to die is not ok and highlights a quick fix medicated approach by the NHS as opposed to longer term MH provision.

OP posts:
Original poster
B00kThi3f · 10/03/2025 08:36

Catza · 10/03/2025 08:35

Ok, so what is your solution? Not allocate money to jabs? Then what? Not treat people who have heart disease, diabetes and hypertension due to obesity? Also stop treating any person who smokes, participates in any form of sport?
You surely must see that "quick fix" is a very cost-effective thing that saves money in multiple services. So unless you solution is cutting access to cardiovascular and orthopedic services to people who may or may not make unwise choices, I really don't see where you think all this extra funding is going to come from.

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It needs to be shared around not all put into one group of people.

OP posts:
Catza · 10/03/2025 08:35

B00kThi3f · 10/03/2025 08:27

It’s not ok. These are children as young as 12 in some cases that we’re talking about. It’s outrageous that services need to be cut for such children and young people whereas apparently we have ££££ for weight loss jabs that just get handed to people as a quick fix. Families are battling to save the lives of their children.

Show quote history

Ok, so what is your solution? Not allocate money to jabs? Then what? Not treat people who have heart disease, diabetes and hypertension due to obesity? Also stop treating any person who smokes, participates in any form of sport?
You surely must see that "quick fix" is a very cost-effective thing that saves money in multiple services. So unless you solution is cutting access to cardiovascular and orthopedic services to people who may or may not make unwise choices, I really don't see where you think all this extra funding is going to come from.

SayDoWhatNow · 10/03/2025 08:35

Going to come at this from a different angle - binge eating disorder is also an ED that benefits from similar intervention to anorexia and bulimia. Often people with binge eating disorder have a history of other disordered eating patterns and significant interpersonal trauma.

Some ED services don't accept referrals for binge eating disorder and people for whom eating is a significant coping strategy for major psychological distress are being funnelled toward weight loss injections and gastric bypass/sleeve/band operations (which do have significant health implications) without any proper psychological support.

ScentOfAMoomin · 10/03/2025 08:34

Do you think smokers should personally contribute to their lung cancer treatment costs?

Should drinkers pay for their own liver transplant?

Should an amateur football player pay for the ambulance that scoops him up with his broken leg?

these are all arguably known risks that people choose to indulge in, like overeating.

Original poster
B00kThi3f · 10/03/2025 08:33

TheMeasure · 10/03/2025 08:31

But patients ARE taking responsibility for it. The vast, vast majority (I have a vague recollection of seeing the amount 90% mentioned somewhere???) of those on WLI are funding it themselves. Only those in much greater need are funded by the nhs.
Whilst I appreciate your concern about your dd, it is not a competition between anorexia and obesity. The two are not related (in terms of treatment/funding protocols at all.

It absolutely is if ED services need to be cut to fund but apparantly there is money on tap for weight loss jabs.

OP posts:
Ubertomusic · 10/03/2025 08:33

Nameychangington · 10/03/2025 07:30

highlights a quick fix medicated approach by the NHS as opposed to longer term MH provision.

Well yes that's exactly what it is. Obese people cost the NHS more because of their co-morbidities, so it's in the government's financial interests to deal with those people's obesity. It's not that obese people are valued more than mentally ill people, it's that they cost more overall so treating them saves money overall.

This.

And anorexia kills a lot faster as OP rightly said so, very cynically, less burden on the NHS budget.

LastHeraldMage · 10/03/2025 08:32

Catza · 10/03/2025 07:26

Anorexia and weightloss drugs are two completely separate issues. I am not a fan of mental health budget cuts in any case but bringing mountjaro into the conversation just completely distracts from the real issue.
It costs £122 per patient per week to prescribe mountjaro. This money is inconsequential when we compare it to the costs of a day on a specialist ward which runs into thousands.

is that correct? I pay approx that a month - and the more expensive ones are around £250? a month not a week

Original poster
B00kThi3f · 10/03/2025 08:32

Poppyseeds79 · 10/03/2025 08:31

Like I said it's apples and oranges. It's like comparing methadone prescriptions with drug rehab. One costs a few pounds and requires no inpatient treatment, the other cost circa 30k a residential stay.

If they can treat thousands for a relatively low amount that can effectively save £££££ theoretically over all those peoples lifetimes. Then that's what they'll do.

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It’s not just a few pounds though. Weight loss jabs cost a lot by of money and only work whilst patients are on them.

OP posts:
TheMeasure · 10/03/2025 08:31

But patients ARE taking responsibility for it. The vast, vast majority (I have a vague recollection of seeing the amount 90% mentioned somewhere???) of those on WLI are funding it themselves. Only those in much greater need are funded by the nhs.
Whilst I appreciate your concern about your dd, it is not a competition between anorexia and obesity. The two are not related (in terms of treatment/funding protocols at all.

Poppyseeds79 · 10/03/2025 08:31

B00kThi3f · 10/03/2025 08:18

I can jolly well query the funding. Some of that money should be going towards ED services and the treatment of Anorexia.

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Like I said it's apples and oranges. It's like comparing methadone prescriptions with drug rehab. One costs a few pounds and requires no inpatient treatment, the other cost circa 30k a residential stay.

If they can treat thousands for a relatively low amount that can effectively save £££££ theoretically over all those peoples lifetimes. Then that's what they'll do.

Original poster
B00kThi3f · 10/03/2025 08:30

FortyElephants · 10/03/2025 08:28

Again, not how funding works.
obesity is a disease. Not an eating disorder. Diseases are treatable, and rarely possible to treat by yourself. People who qualify for WLI on the NHS are extremely sick.

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And so are Anorexia patients. So they can just die then.

OP posts:
Original poster
B00kThi3f · 10/03/2025 08:29

FortyElephants · 10/03/2025 08:28

You're getting unpleasant now

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No I’m not. Why can’t it be a split cost with the money saved from that put towards ED services which are being cut?

OP posts:
FortyElephants · 10/03/2025 08:28

B00kThi3f · 10/03/2025 08:27

So why can’t they be forced to contribute towards the cost?

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You're getting unpleasant now

FortyElephants · 10/03/2025 08:28

B00kThi3f · 10/03/2025 08:24

I’m aware of that however funding is under so much pressure services are being cut across the country. Less should be going towards weight loss jabs and towards other services as opposed to cuts.

And if obesity isn’t an eating disorder shouldn’t patients be taking more responsibility for it.

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Again, not how funding works.
obesity is a disease. Not an eating disorder. Diseases are treatable, and rarely possible to treat by yourself. People who qualify for WLI on the NHS are extremely sick.

Bigtreebrenda · 10/03/2025 08:27

There are so many mental health issues - AN included - which if treated immediately can be effectively ‘nipped in the bud’ before they go on to develop into a much more complex issue. That the government can’t see this and make appropriate provisions is scandalous, It would be SO MUCH CHEAPER for them to do so, but that’s spending money up front. Why do that when you can kick the can down the road?

Original poster
B00kThi3f · 10/03/2025 08:27

FortyElephants · 10/03/2025 08:27

A small number of people are able to access them on the NHS. The only person I know of has arthritis, a recent hip replacement (on the NHS), a lung condition, a heart condition and a BMI of over 45. She is also approaching 60. Patients like her will cost the NHS millions before they die (prematurely). Spending cash on injections to get her weight down is a very good investment.

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So why can’t they be forced to contribute towards the cost?

OP posts:
Original poster
B00kThi3f · 10/03/2025 08:27

Teado · 10/03/2025 08:21

The costs and pressures of anorexia pale into insignificance compared to those associated with obesity. So, the latter is seen as more crucial for finding.

It is all about the money, the Exchequer. Not the “value” of the disease or the patient, I guess.

I am really sorry for what your daughter has been through OP.

It’s not ok. These are children as young as 12 in some cases that we’re talking about. It’s outrageous that services need to be cut for such children and young people whereas apparently we have ££££ for weight loss jabs that just get handed to people as a quick fix. Families are battling to save the lives of their children.

OP posts:
FortyElephants · 10/03/2025 08:27

elliejjtiny · 10/03/2025 08:23

I thought people had to pay for weight loss injections themselves.

A small number of people are able to access them on the NHS. The only person I know of has arthritis, a recent hip replacement (on the NHS), a lung condition, a heart condition and a BMI of over 45. She is also approaching 60. Patients like her will cost the NHS millions before they die (prematurely). Spending cash on injections to get her weight down is a very good investment.

Original poster
B00kThi3f · 10/03/2025 08:24

FortyElephants · 10/03/2025 08:21

I'm sorry that this is clearly personal to you but they aren't cutting anorexia funding to fund WLI. That's not how it works.

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I’m aware of that however funding is under so much pressure services are being cut across the country. Less should be going towards weight loss jabs and towards other services as opposed to cuts.

And if obesity isn’t an eating disorder shouldn’t patients be taking more responsibility for it.

OP posts:
elliejjtiny · 10/03/2025 08:23

I thought people had to pay for weight loss injections themselves.

Dontletthebedbugsbite2 · 10/03/2025 08:22

Agix · 10/03/2025 07:22

Anorexia is cool again now. They're injecting people with medication that severely lowers their appetite to enable them to emulate the very low calorie consumption of anorexics... and it's perfectly acceptable.

I also have anorexia. I went through treatment, weight restoration, recovery and now feel entirely ripped off. I never wanted to eat more. I never wanted to regain weight. I thought I had to because it was apparently unhealthy to eat so little - even when I wasn't underweight, they'd make me eat more.

Turns out it's all lies and perfectly fine to eat so little in the pursuit of thin.

At least I can do what I want now. Of anyone asks about my weightloss, I'll just say it's ozempic and that will make it A-OK.

I'm older now so not losing weight as fast, is my only complaint. They should have just let me be before. I don't understand why they'd pretend low calorie consumption is harmful if it's not.

I hope you're okay ❤

Teado · 10/03/2025 08:21

The costs and pressures of anorexia pale into insignificance compared to those associated with obesity. So, the latter is seen as more crucial for finding.

It is all about the money, the Exchequer. Not the “value” of the disease or the patient, I guess.

I am really sorry for what your daughter has been through OP.

FortyElephants · 10/03/2025 08:21

B00kThi3f · 10/03/2025 08:03

All Anorexia patients are at serious risk of death, no extra funding for them, just cuts and a worse outcome. How is that fair?

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I'm sorry that this is clearly personal to you but they aren't cutting anorexia funding to fund WLI. That's not how it works.

FortyElephants · 10/03/2025 08:20

B00kThi3f · 10/03/2025 08:02

Aren’t obese people mentally ill too? I thought obesity was an eating disorder. Anorexia and other EDs cost the nhs ££££. Paediatric wards are full of young people with EDs, often weeks at a time needing multiple members of staff as there are often no specialist beds anywhere.

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Obesity is a physical disease. It may have an aetiology that is in part physiological but no it's not an eating disorder. Not all obese people have binge eating disorder.

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