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Is it the begining of the end for Weight loss injections?

489 replies

BeginingoftheendforWLI · 02/01/2026 18:54

Just watched a report on BBC news, they did an item on a woman who had type 2 diabetes and was prescribed Mounjaro, doctors were impressed she managed to come off insulin within a month. She had some weightloss and now goes to the gym regularly.

Her doctor admitted that there was widespread concern in the medical field that people who were buying it privately for cosmetic reasons not for medical reasons could face some consequences in the future such as muscle growth and bone degeneration and lack of nutrition - they simply don't have this data at present.

Feel like this is going to be big news in the foreseeable future.

OP posts:
HRTQueen · 04/01/2026 10:38

I’m happy to take WLI’s for life as the weight loss is just one benefit but ultimately the most important one

no longer pre diabetic, lower blood pressure, thyroid levels more stable, less migraines, better sleep, mental health better, no more excessive bloating and able to control bladder (no more leakage), far less acid reflux no medication now needed for it I am overall healthier

but I guess all of that was punishment for being a fatty and really I’m not deserving enough 🙄

i never received such concern over my health until I started losing weight and no longer over eight and looked much better how odd

Arraminta · 04/01/2026 10:26

And, I don’t have any issue with taking Mounjaro long term. I can afford it, and I have no worries about the long term risks having weighed these up for my personal circumstances. I find it odd that other people would have such a strong opinion that I must not do this, for reasons that seem excessively controlling and not based in fact but in negative speculation.

Because you are now slim and much healthier and can financially afford to stay on WLI indefinitely. AND IT'S NOT FUCKING FAIR, DAMN YOU. DAMN YOU TO HELL.

And the only way I can alleviate my corrosive resentment and envy is by disparaging WLI and sincerely hoping they will be revealed to directly cause hideous side effects.

SwingTheMonkey · 04/01/2026 10:24

Zov · 04/01/2026 09:46

This is the problem see. I wouldn't take WLI (even if they were free) but if others who are obese want to take them, then crack on. But they should not be available over the internet, it should be prescribed by a GP, and no-one should be taking them unless their BMI is over 32. Too many people are taking them 'to shift that last stone' (that many of them don't need to lose.) And some are even taking them when they aren't even overweight at all, to lose 7-10 pounds that they want to lose. Want, not need.. And this is actually dangeous. And it's not 'faux concern' it's a fact.

You can't say a thing against them on here though, people are fiercely protective of their weight loss injections for some reason, and will mock and deride anyone who critisizes them. I also wonder about the long term effects for people who take them for a long time, and am already seeing some people who have been on them (and lost 5-7 stone) regaining the weight after stopping taking them.

And you have to stop, once you get to a healthy weight. If you're down to a BMI of say 23-24, why are you even taking them still? Some will say 'to maintain the lower weight' but then they will say in the next breath that their eating habits are much healthier and controlled now...thanks to the jabs...' Errr, OK, so come off the jabs then... Surely no-one wants to take them for life? And surely most people couldn't afford to? And don't compare them to meds people HAVE to take for life, because no-one HAS to take WLI for the rest of their life. And no-one should be doing so...

Is it the beginning of the end @BeginingoftheendforWLI ??? Maybe. I think they're losing popularity a bit, because of the cost, and the fact that the weight piles back on when you stop taking them. (Some will deny this, but it will, and it does...)

There is so much ignorance in this post, I don’t know where to start.

Ah, it’s you @Zov. Say no more…

Arraminta · 04/01/2026 10:15

Zov · 04/01/2026 09:46

This is the problem see. I wouldn't take WLI (even if they were free) but if others who are obese want to take them, then crack on. But they should not be available over the internet, it should be prescribed by a GP, and no-one should be taking them unless their BMI is over 32. Too many people are taking them 'to shift that last stone' (that many of them don't need to lose.) And some are even taking them when they aren't even overweight at all, to lose 7-10 pounds that they want to lose. Want, not need.. And this is actually dangeous. And it's not 'faux concern' it's a fact.

You can't say a thing against them on here though, people are fiercely protective of their weight loss injections for some reason, and will mock and deride anyone who critisizes them. I also wonder about the long term effects for people who take them for a long time, and am already seeing some people who have been on them (and lost 5-7 stone) regaining the weight after stopping taking them.

And you have to stop, once you get to a healthy weight. If you're down to a BMI of say 23-24, why are you even taking them still? Some will say 'to maintain the lower weight' but then they will say in the next breath that their eating habits are much healthier and controlled now...thanks to the jabs...' Errr, OK, so come off the jabs then... Surely no-one wants to take them for life? And surely most people couldn't afford to? And don't compare them to meds people HAVE to take for life, because no-one HAS to take WLI for the rest of their life. And no-one should be doing so...

Is it the beginning of the end @BeginingoftheendforWLI ??? Maybe. I think they're losing popularity a bit, because of the cost, and the fact that the weight piles back on when you stop taking them. (Some will deny this, but it will, and it does...)

I have maintained my new weight since the Spring on a low dose of Mounjaro. I have no intention of coming off it because it makes it much easier to keep the weight off. And why on Earth shouldn't I want to make my life easier? I have a cleaner and a gardener. I pay someone to valet my car and clean my windows. I'm just outsourcing the maintenance of my new weight to Mounjaro, and it does its job brilliantly.

I'm also going to continue to take it for the protection it provides against dementia, strokes and some cancers. If you care to do some proper reading and research (so not The Sun or Daily Mail click-bait) you will learn that the health benefits of WLI are myriad and the weight loss is just the tip of the iceberg.

Such a real shame that so many obese, and also angry, people can't or won't use WLI. I worry deeply about the serious long term effects their obesity is having on their health. I really do. It must be awful living with the knowledge that Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, strokes, increased risk of dementia, reduced mobility, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, fatty liver disease and high blood pressure are most likely on the horizon. Such a shame.

HeidiLite · 04/01/2026 10:13

And don't compare them to meds people HAVE to take for life, because no-one HAS to take WLI for the rest of their life. And no-one should be doing so...

People also don't HAVE to take many other meds, they can just suffer and live with their other chronic conditions, like hypothyroidism, migranes, osteoarthritis, IBS to name a few. You won't immediately drop dead or anything if not medicated. But medication unarguably improves the quality of life. Why shouldn't people take this particular medication for life, if they need to?

Binus · 04/01/2026 10:06

Zov · 04/01/2026 09:46

This is the problem see. I wouldn't take WLI (even if they were free) but if others who are obese want to take them, then crack on. But they should not be available over the internet, it should be prescribed by a GP, and no-one should be taking them unless their BMI is over 32. Too many people are taking them 'to shift that last stone' (that many of them don't need to lose.) And some are even taking them when they aren't even overweight at all, to lose 7-10 pounds that they want to lose. Want, not need.. And this is actually dangeous. And it's not 'faux concern' it's a fact.

You can't say a thing against them on here though, people are fiercely protective of their weight loss injections for some reason, and will mock and deride anyone who critisizes them. I also wonder about the long term effects for people who take them for a long time, and am already seeing some people who have been on them (and lost 5-7 stone) regaining the weight after stopping taking them.

And you have to stop, once you get to a healthy weight. If you're down to a BMI of say 23-24, why are you even taking them still? Some will say 'to maintain the lower weight' but then they will say in the next breath that their eating habits are much healthier and controlled now...thanks to the jabs...' Errr, OK, so come off the jabs then... Surely no-one wants to take them for life? And surely most people couldn't afford to? And don't compare them to meds people HAVE to take for life, because no-one HAS to take WLI for the rest of their life. And no-one should be doing so...

Is it the beginning of the end @BeginingoftheendforWLI ??? Maybe. I think they're losing popularity a bit, because of the cost, and the fact that the weight piles back on when you stop taking them. (Some will deny this, but it will, and it does...)

Another example of someone who's managed to come up with a strong opinion and various 'shoulds' on the WLI issue without knowing even the very basics.

If you think people have to come off once they hit healthy BMI, that tells us you've not even done the barest minimum of research. I would ask what the scientific basis for your 32 BMI suggestion is and why you think the skillset of a GP is better suited to ongoing management of the drug than a pharmacist, but we all know how that's going to end.

And if I didn't want to be mocked or criticised, I wouldn't make obviously uninformed and nosey comments about people's finances. I mean, how on earth would you know what a group comprising millions of people can afford? It's not like there's any stats on the matter.

But yeah, you can't say a thing against WLIs on here...

SilenceInside · 04/01/2026 10:05

I mean, their popularity is most definitely increasing, that’s not a debate but a simple fact. The numbers using them continue to increase.

By saying that they must only be prescribed by a GP, do you mean NHS only? So banned from private prescriptions totally. Or is a private GP ok? What about the online pharmacies where consultations are decided by doctors, is that ok? Or does it have to be in person only?

And this is down to the fact that some people access the medication fraudulently, so for you, the fact that this happens means it cannot be available at all via online private prescriptions for the 1.5 million people plus who are accessing them legitimately. That doesn’t seem a reasonable or proportionate response to me.

And, I don’t have any issue with taking Mounjaro long term. I can afford it, and I have no worries about the long term risks having weighed these up for my personal circumstances. I find it odd that other people would have such a strong opinion that I must not do this, for reasons that seem excessively controlling and not based in fact but in negative speculation.

HungryCaterpillarGirl · 04/01/2026 10:04

chellewillnotbebeaten · 02/01/2026 19:04

I agree - admittedly I don’t need wli but I have been very overweight in the past and would have probably snapped them up at the time - early to mid twenties I fried every fad diet, pharmacy only shakes, everything (heartbreak diet solved the issue in the end haha) BUT I do think they are poorly regulated/controlled…… people are injecting insulin when they are not diabetic! That’s so dangerous! (I work in healthcare and have seen devastating effects and death from incorrect insulin management for people that actually are diabetic). Then again, I smoke and ecig and I’m sure in years to come there will be consequences with that.

You work in healthcare...I hope nothing involving drug administration if you don't even know the WLI's don't contain insulin, don't pose a professional and spread misinformation!

HeidiLite · 04/01/2026 09:55

And you have to stop, once you get to a healthy weight

you don't. Obesity is a chronic, relapsing disease.

Zov · 04/01/2026 09:46

MigGirl · 02/01/2026 19:06

I am concerned about the long term implications of these drugs. I agree they are a great tool and work really well for a lot of people, but I don't agree thay they should be available over the Internet and from online pharmacies. They are a medical drug and they should be monitored by a doctor, weather that be the NHS or private.

And yes I'm aware that would make them more expensive then they are now.

This is the problem see. I wouldn't take WLI (even if they were free) but if others who are obese want to take them, then crack on. But they should not be available over the internet, it should be prescribed by a GP, and no-one should be taking them unless their BMI is over 32. Too many people are taking them 'to shift that last stone' (that many of them don't need to lose.) And some are even taking them when they aren't even overweight at all, to lose 7-10 pounds that they want to lose. Want, not need.. And this is actually dangeous. And it's not 'faux concern' it's a fact.

You can't say a thing against them on here though, people are fiercely protective of their weight loss injections for some reason, and will mock and deride anyone who critisizes them. I also wonder about the long term effects for people who take them for a long time, and am already seeing some people who have been on them (and lost 5-7 stone) regaining the weight after stopping taking them.

And you have to stop, once you get to a healthy weight. If you're down to a BMI of say 23-24, why are you even taking them still? Some will say 'to maintain the lower weight' but then they will say in the next breath that their eating habits are much healthier and controlled now...thanks to the jabs...' Errr, OK, so come off the jabs then... Surely no-one wants to take them for life? And surely most people couldn't afford to? And don't compare them to meds people HAVE to take for life, because no-one HAS to take WLI for the rest of their life. And no-one should be doing so...

Is it the beginning of the end @BeginingoftheendforWLI ??? Maybe. I think they're losing popularity a bit, because of the cost, and the fact that the weight piles back on when you stop taking them. (Some will deny this, but it will, and it does...)

Hereagain2 · 04/01/2026 09:32

CharlotteStreetW1 · 02/01/2026 19:22

Already here. I've just been prescribed with the tablets for Type II Diabetes.

(Feeling very ambivalent about it.)

I thought type 2 diabetes was always controlled with tablets and type 1 with insulin injections ?

I’ve been on MJ since May 2024. I had a heart attack at Christmas 2023 and spent 10 days in coronary care.

It was very fricking scary, and at the time I didn’t consider myself to be overweight or obese, even though my BMI was 36 and wearing a size 24 and apparently pre-diabetic. I also had poorly controlled BP and high cholesterol.

Looking back through photographs over the years I’ve been overweight all my life and I have realised I am an emotional eater.

Fast forward to now and my BMI is 22. I wear a 12.

I can walk without being out of breath, my cholesterol, BP etc all within normal range - I no longer take all the 12 different medications a day I needed.
Not going to lie, it’s been a massive financial commitment but in my eyes worth every penny, I could have had it funded by the NHS but I felt and still do that it was my mess to sort out.

My GP has been very supportive and I will continue with the maintenance program with his and my prescribers support. I do still have 28lb to shift

It’s been life changing for me, as it has been for many, many people.

So no, I don’t think this is the beginning of the end. I think it’s the start of something very positive.

daffodilandtulip · 04/01/2026 08:33

Losing weight isn't cosmetic. It's health.

SilenceInside · 04/01/2026 08:29

For anyone who is obese, any level of obesity, WLI are a suitable option. That’s the whole point of them being approved for use. The benefit outweighs any possible risks. That’s also true for anyone who is at the higher end of overweight (BMI 27 plus) who also has a weight related health condition.

They’re not just of benefit to those who are morbidly obese, which is a BMI of 40 plus.

I’ve been in a calorie deficit for 18 months. My digestion is not ruined. My hair and skin are great, my skin in particular is much better than before. I am fitter than ever. I’ve had blood tests during this time that show all results in the normal range. Honestly don’t know why people think that this process is somehow disastrous for me.

Binus · 04/01/2026 08:24

Not sure it'll even be long term calorie deficit in most cases. After the initial burst people tend to get, a steady loss of a pound or two a week means long term users are going to be at maintenance for much longer than they're in the losing phase. Unless you were very obese, in which case obviously you start from a much higher risk anyway.

But yes, weight loss comes with it's own set of cons, and as an obese person there is no risk free option available.

DarkForces · 04/01/2026 08:16

@ChinFluff46 On any diet you need to be in a long term calorie deficit to lose weight. On wlis you have plenty of advice from pharmacists about nutrition. I steadily lost at 5lb a month and my stats went from nearly all red to all green and my metabolic age dropped from 10 year older to 2 years younger than my actual age. My muscle and bone density is normal to excellent now but most excitingly they seem to target fat loss around your organs and my visceral fat is in the excellent range down from positively dangerous levels. It's made my body healthy where it was damaged. Bloody incredible. I wasn't morbidly obese but I was obese at around bmi 32 when I started tracking.

ChinFluff46 · 04/01/2026 02:58

For people who are morbidly obese WLI are a better option, but I don't think you've expressed a valid point well.

The risks ARE already known - eating in a deficit for a long time (more than a few months) risks nutritional deficiency.

In long term calorie deficits the body will strip away its own muscle tissue and even bone for energy.

Its ruinous for digestion - there's less energy to digest food.

The body also shuts off less essential processes like skin renewal and hair growth and hormone synthesis which require calories.

covilha · 04/01/2026 00:40

obes affects the things you mentioned AND Kills. It is linked to heart disease, cancer, diabetes and many other diseases.
People struggle their entire lives with their weight, while often being blamed for an adverse condition for which they possibly have a hereditary predisposition. The weight loss injections are prescribed and the users monitored.
surely having the chance of improving short and long term health outcomes is a good thing op?

violetfirth · 03/01/2026 23:58

Her doctor admitted that there was widespread concern in the medical field that people who were buying it privately for cosmetic reasons not for medical reasons could face some consequences in the future such as muscle growth and bone degeneration and lack of nutrition - they simply don't have this data at present.

You mean muscle loss, or sarcopenia. Which is problematic.

Arraminta · 03/01/2026 22:37

RhaenysRocks · 03/01/2026 20:38

Agreed. I'm on holiday right now and I've absolutely promised my DP that I am not denying myself anything I actually want. I've turned down loads of treats and sweets and alcohol, not because I'm being "good" and secretly wanting it, I just don't want it. That's why MH makes it "easier". It doesn't melt the fat off or even just suppress appetite, the blood sugar / insulin balance is handled far better so that thing when people say ,"I forgot to eat lunch"..I get that now.

Exactly the same for me, too. I'd always had such a sweet tooth which only got worse in peri menopause. As soon as I started Mounjaro that switch was turned off. I didn't crave sugar at all. That place in my head just didn't exist anymore.

SilenceInside · 03/01/2026 22:31

@TempestTost people aren't shocked that recent medications might sometimes have as yet unknown serious side effects. People are, reasonably, pointing out that there's nothing different or particularly dangerous about WLI injections that makes this any more likely or probable. In fact, they have been in use for a fair while in various forms and there is not as yet any evidence of long term issues. Far from it in fact, when the medications are being studied as treatments for various other conditions related to the effects that they have on our bodies.

Kurtcobainscardigan · 03/01/2026 22:22

BeginingoftheendforWLI · 03/01/2026 19:45

I think its simple in your eyes that you should eat adequate protein and resistance train.

But for the average person on weight loss injections they have tried this multiple times and it doesn't work for them.

I suspect they are simply ordering a pizza or a doner kebab or a curry and just eating a quarter of it then congratulating themselves they have lost weight.

Then they wonder why their hair is falling out and they look unwell all the while complaining why people aren't saying they look great because of the weight loss.

Are you just bitter that you are a fat person who can't afford them? Or are you a miserable cow who wants everyone around them to feel as bitter and sad as you?

Quite sad that you feel such a need to be judgemental and pessimistic in your attitude. Let people live however they want and keep your nose out of others business.

TempestTost · 03/01/2026 22:16

I wouldn't say the beginning of the end.

But yes, of course once you have much more widespread use of a drug with such a significant effect, there may well be outcomes that become evident that could be serious.

That's not unusual with drugs when they enter the market and become widely used.

I'm not sure why some people seem so shocked that this is a thing, it seems pretty predictable to me.

PinkHyperQueen · 03/01/2026 22:14

It’s medication. All meds no matter what have side effects. People need to do more research before starting to take something. You need to be your own advocate. I learned the the hard way during my pregnancy.

dh280125 · 03/01/2026 22:11

If you lose weight you lose muscle as well as fat - the answer is to eat a lot of protein and that's what decent weightloss programs make sure you are doing (eg juniper).

SquidLife · 03/01/2026 21:48

WearyAuldWumman · 03/01/2026 13:07

I find the weights in the pockets difficult to believe - I'm told that a current photograph in underwear is required, along with height and weight.

I was in the NHS BMI 'obese' category before losing two stones. I've now just edged into the NHS 'overweight' category - just under a BMI of 30, so I'm ineligible for the injections.

A consultant told me not to consider the injections, but to concentrate on lifting weights. (My age might be a consideration - I'm nearly 66.)

I wasn't seeing him about my weight - I'd mentioned that I'd lost a couple of stones and that was probably why I'd noticed a possible problem. He told me that he'd had an upsurge in women coming in because they'd lost weight too rapidly and had been left with lumps and bumps in one area. (He was running a breast clinic.).

I'll not quote his exact words. I did on another thread and caused offence. I'll reiterate that he was talking about dramatic weight loss in a short period of time.

I know people who are on Mounjaro and are very happy with the results. However, they were all in the 'obese' category and they all followed doctor's orders - they didn't aim to lose a lot quickly.

I would have tried the injections myself, were it not for the fact that I suffer from IBS and once I read about the side effects that some people suffer, I realised that it wasn't for me. However, it seems to me that it's been a life saver for some and it's not an easy fix - you still have to watch what you're eating.

Edited

It's not something I would do as you also have to have certain co-morbidities to get it on the NHS and I can't afford it privately. I would definitely be eligible from a private perspective.