To think weight-loss injections should be prescribed in person only. The scale of abuse must be shocking.

Well OP, I'm very anti! Just another case of the pharmaceutical industry cashing in at the expense of some vulnerable people (either overweight or with various issues that make them obsessed with their weight whatever size), and all the harms and risks will come out in years to come. And then we'll know they knew and didn't care a jot. I'm convinced that if we chucked this amount of money down other avenues we could have a much healthier population but I guess the profit margin just wouldn't be there. Very sad. Really hope your friends are all okay x

This is what I wanted to say!

Its their money and bodies - as long g as people who need the drugs (diabetics) aren't going without why would anyone care?

I think it's linked to so many people being morbidly obese and a really unhealthy food culture in the US that we have partially adopted here.

I think it will just because there’s so much money to make from it.

Apparently about 15% of the US population is now taking WLI. When you remove elderly and under 18yo, that’s a hell of a lot of people!

Is it a good idea? I dint think so. I believe it’s all linked to this image that thin is better and being fat is a sign of bad character (lack of self control etc….).
That’s the same reason why some people abuse WLI or go on crash diet on the top of it. They want huge losses (always widely celebrated), quickly (so it’s visible). Basically all the crap from the weight loss industry + magazines downloaded into the WLI system, making some insane ‘rules’ that few were able to follow possible.

Everyone has to weigh up the risks and benefits for themselves along with their pharmacist and private doctor or GP. Some ethnicities need to be a lower BMI, for example and some people are apple shaped and need to lose weight off their middle even if their BMI is ok. My dad had a BMI of 24/25 and was very fit and muscular but he had high cholesterol and blocked arteries. My mum's BMI was 26 when she became pre-diabetic and then developed diabetes. There has to be a cut off somewhere and it won't be perfect in every case. I just happen to think that the regular cut off should be lower than BMI 30, and it probably will be lowered I imagine in future. As I said, I got it legitimately at BMI 29 for several reasons but it's a shame people have to wait for something like high blood pressure to develop or to get fatter before they are allowed to take it.

While we have an NHS that we pay for though our taxes it does become our business.

Are you worried about other types of medication people take for long term maintenance that are also none of your business?

I think it's open to abuse BUT I live in a world where we are personally responsible for our own actions, accountability seems to have gone out of the window these days. These people are responsible for lying & putting whatever it is into their bodies.

But do you not think it’s not hugely difficult - in the vast majority of cases - to lose a couple of pounds? I mean that literally: two pounds.

I just don’t think losing such a small amount of weight on WLI is worth the risks that are greater for those who are not obese and have never been obese - ie people who are a couple of pounds overweight to have a BMI of 25.

Well no-one is forcing them to take it. But even being a few pounds overweight can be an issue for some people and it may prevent them suffering from obesity.

Why? They could be a pound or two overweight with a BMI of just over 25. Some can lose that after getting rid of some water retention overnight and having a big poo!

Not to mention BMI has been deemed a blunt instrument for gauging health for years. Of course we can’t really argue with it in most cases when it’s very high but many with a BMI of not far over 25 will be perfectly healthy still. DH’s is somewhere between 25 and 30 - he’s very tall and has a lot of muscle. He’s objectively in great shape, not just to me. He has a full health check with his private healthcare and even they tell him BMI isn’t the best indicator of health.

You make a valid point about the cost to the NHS if people have become ill or die on WLI that have been acquired through dubious means. But even then the fact they’ve become ill or died because of being a fool doesn’t bother me one bit.

Unfortunately this kind of drug is always going to be open to abuse. People need to take responsibility for themselves. If they openly lie to get access then that’s their lookout. They know the risks and are choosing to damage their body to see a certain weight on a scale. You can’t argue with stupid.

'not recommended for' does not relate in anyway to 'not safe for'

Very True. I have a loved one who’s on an off label dose of a particular medication. It’s about twice the recommended amount.

Ethnicity can play a very big part in obesity related illness. In fact if you look at a BMI calculator it asks about your ethnicity. It’s important. It’s relevant.

14 is a reasonable size to start the drug for many (unless tall). What dress size equates to 'painfully thin'? I have a friend who is a dress size 6 and even she doesn't look 'painfully thin'.

The fact she now looks older to you is irrelevant. She's likely more concerned about her improved health than what random colleagues think of her appearance.

Truth is there are hardly any drugs if any where you need to be seen 'in person'. In the UK we have a weird idea about drugs ie that they have to be accessed through our GP. That isn't, and has never been the case. We need to take more responsibility for our own health and if you rely on your GP, well best of luck to you!
Presumably if you are a medical professional with any interest in drugs you will know that drugs can be prescribed safely off label and that 'not recommended for' does not relate in anyway to 'not safe for'
The vast majority of people getting ill on these drugs are buying God knows what from beauticians and not registered prescribers. I'm not sure we can legislate for such stupidity. I mean these people are allowed to vote! The sellers should be prosecuted.
But in short, no of course this should not be an in person drug. It's just not how prescribing works.

I think it should be available as a pharmacy medicine to anyone with BMI 25 and over. Perhaps it soon will be.

Does she have an ED? If she’s a size 8 and taking, I’d say it’s highly likely. Why is her husband thinking of leaving her? I think that’s quite harsh.

What I’d say is if she has, or you suspect she has an ED, I’d put more energy in trying to support her as a friend, and less getting angry about the availablity of the injections.

Have a look at the LEAP method for supporting people with mental health conditions who don’t believe they’re unwell.

This sounds wholly unethical. To be honest, it's a disaster all around. The biggest issue with these injections are that they enable rapid weight reduction and so muscle loss is a factor at play. Muscle is crucial for strength, mobility, and overall health far into the future and I do think lots of people on these injections are primarily concerned about the number on the scales, rather than the composition of their bodies inside.

I have a work friend who clearly used it to lose weight last year when she wasn't more than about a size 14 to start with. She now looks painfully thin, her face is gaunt, and it's aged her quite a lot in appearance.

Ethnicity can be very relevant. 23 - 25 is NOT perfectly healthy for many people as it is Overweight.

I see it now. Very interesting! I learned summat.

Same. My BMI was 33 when I started MJ a month ago. I definitely looked overweight but when I went to my GP she did not believe I qualified until I stepped on the scale. You have to have BMI >30 in Belgium (where I live) and cannot get it from any online pharmacies on the basis of photos alone.