Doctors/Nurses/Dietitians/healthcare professionals, what are you real and honest beliefs about the whole weight loss injection moment we are having?

Everyone is different, If I was in your position I’d definitely use weight loss injections.

Thank you.

I hadn’t realised there was specific training related to GLP-1 prescribing. That’s really helpful information and gives something specific to look for in a private GP.

The NHS/dieticians/Gp's are mostly not up to date with the latest thinking on what's actually a healthy diet. They are still recommending the Weight watchers style diet. My Gp's knew nothing about using injectables when I first started on Saxenda a couple of years ago. It's interesting That Michael Mosley's son has just now written a book on how to eat healthily on GLP medications. It's also very worth following Zoe ( Professor Tim Spector ) on Instagram.

With regards to putting on weight after stopping Glps this happens with all diets. Not just with the medicated weight loss. There is evidence that the body has a set weight it will return to. So the majority of Slimming Magazine club winners used to go back to being rather large. There are very few exceptions.

I did it for 8 weeks. It gave me a huge hoof up the backside. I lost 2lbs a week. What I did do though was absolutely change every single thing I needed to. Protein intake, water intake, exercise every single day. I started in July last year and now I've lost 2stone and 2lbs but 90% of this is will power, commitment to exercise and food control. I was only a size 12 but I'm short. I never went up a dose. Stayed on 2.5mg so can't really say I had much in the way of side affects. I see it as a tool to reset your Lifestyle changes. Honestly wouldn't know what my go thought. I know a lot of people on it that have lost stones and stones but once stopped it's come back on once they eat normally again. I had to force myself to eat and it wasn't nice. But I've kept the weight off and I train every day. I feel great.

I would disagree with this, a lot of people living in deprived areas will be relying on calorie rich food for nutrients. Increasing the cost wouldn’t help them.

They have been widely used in the US for over fifteen years. Yes, there might yet be longer term side effects, but equally there might not. What we do know a lot about are the dreadful side effects of obesity.

Mounjaro can be taken long term at a maintenance dose. You wouldn’t stop taking antidepressants because your mood had stabilised. Mounjaro is the same. It’s a medication for a serious health condition.

I disagree.

Saxenda gave me horrific anxiety, so every l notified the card people. This happened twice as l couldn’t believe the first time.

Wegovy gave me bad insomnia

I am 4 and a half weeks in. I've lost over a stone. It's been like a switch has been turned off and I eat what I need to live and nothing more. I feel full quickly and it's easy to choose well. That's been on the lowest dose. Yes I am also focused and motivated but I've had no side effects and I'm excited for the future. Based on my experience I couldn't recommend it enough.

That's my thoughts too, trying to get a hold of the GP is easier said than done.
And anywhere that sells them is likely to be chasing the sale rather than genuinely having your best interest at heart.

Diabetes dietitian here
We have used them for 20 years so pretty safe, but for weight loss, it worries me that without support people will lose and gain time and again which is not healthy.
You need to learn better food choices to keep the weight off.

IME it’s because they have a sense of superiority over fat people and are concerned that if people lose weight they will lose that (perceived) superiority

All the doctors I have spoken to about them are massively in favour of them they just aren’t able to prescribe them for weight loss because of funding.

Like all medicines there are people who will tolerate them more than others. Some might be allergic but that’s all medicines.

I think the vast majority of intelligent people understand now that weight gain is a complex interaction of genes, mental health, hormones, emotional relationship with food as well as life style. There is a bit of a panic amongst those who feel their weight makes them superior (primarily linked to the permeation of religious doctrine into secular attitudes) so SM is full of comments like the above re “can’t wait for the side effects”. There’s nothing wrong with using drugs to solve a medical problem. Go to your GP and ask to talk through weight loss options and make it clear you’re happy to go out and get a private prescription

You could try a private GP or other face to face private weight loss clinic. Clearly there's still an incentive for prescribing, but if you choose a reputable independent service then you may have more confidence in them than if you just used an online pharmacy. I do some private work - I'm not trained to prescribe GLP-1s, but a colleague is and they are very thorough and they do say no to patients on occasion when appropriate.

I have heard this expressed a few times. I cannot wrap my head around people wishing harm on others like this. On strangers who have done them no harm. Whose only crime is struggling with their weight and wanting to be healthy. What is wrong with people who are so nasty?

The real issue with weight loss drugs is sustainability - the drugs reduce hunger, which leads to reduced calorie consumption whilst medicated. Without wider changes occurring alongside the medication to break unhelpful behaviour chains, tackle the causes of overeating, and the emotional use of food, most people will regain the weight lost. It’s easy to eat less when we have no natural desire to eat, it’s not as easy to do this whilst dealing with hunger, cravings, holidays, stressors etc and the medication doesn’t teach people how to deal with these things.

What a nasty thing to say
Do better fgs

@CakeIsNotAvailable my BMI is around 31, I'm 50, and 80kg.

Do you think it would be worth the risk?

One tool in a box, I wouldn't long term but as pp has said risk vs benefit. Sounds like you have established good habits already and this is great thinking longer term, there may be other treatments or dietary changes you could make before considering 'jabs'. It's worth chatting to your own GP around this as they can help you to weigh this up with full knowledge of your medical history etc.

Oh aren't you so edgy! Well done you.

Now go and have a Twix or something.

I’m not sure what could be worse than the long-term effects of morbid obesity.

You sound absolutely delightful.

YABU. The GLP drugs mimic a hormone your stomach produces when you've eaten too much to tell your brain to stop eating. Because the drug uses a pathway you already have, it's unlikely to have side effects that haven't emerged yet. And it's been in use for many years.

Ew, what an awful person.

Have you got any thoughts on what the best routes to go for quality input on the risk / benefit front?

One of my frustrations is that NHS (rightly) manage their use of resources, and any private company seems to be out to sell you a product from their supply range. Getting unbiased advice seems impossible. Or maybe I’m just looking in the wrong place.

What a horrible post. Imagine being the sort of person sat gleefully waiting and hoping for something unfortunate to happen to other people.