If you're taking Ozempic to lose a bit of weight doesn't this make you feel guilty?

[QueenieMe]

The Weight Loss Chat board feels like it's been taken over by Ozempic threads at the moment, with everyone and their aunt spending a fortune on injections to lose weight. Yet I've just seen Diabetes UK has issued a warning saying that diabetic patients are struggling to get supplies because of the demand. For them, taking the drug is not a lifestyle choice! I do appreciate there are those on the WLC board who are clinically obese and are taking it because their weight is impacting their health, but when I see women with normal BMIs saying they're taking it to lose that last stubborn stone I do despair. Knowing patients were struggling for supplies so I could fit in a bikini make me feel so guilty that I just couldn't do it. I'd love to hear their justification.

https://inews.co.uk/news/ozempic-diabetic-weight-loss-patients-drug-demand-2342119

How judgemental of you. Yes - in theory lifestyle changes can reverse it - but if it was easy, no-one would be fat or have Type 2 Diabetes. Overeating for many is not as simple as just deciding to eat less and a lot of things come into play

I think putting all the weight back on would sting that little bit more knowing you'd spent £200 a month to lose it. But yes, addressing the emotional reasons for overeating is absolutely key on any weight loss journey.

I'm obese. I didn't used to be, menopause meant I have piled on nearly 4 stone whilst exercising and eating the same as before.

I have tried everything to lose weight and it doesn't work because I just can't eat little enough. My metabolism has changed and I need to eat a 1000 calories to lose and I just can't do it.

I was told I'm at a higher risk for cancer and heart problems due to my weight. So I'm taking ozempic

The research papers say that people can put on up to two thirds of the weight back, not all of it. And yes of course the whole point is to address your relationship with food.

Some people on here just get very angry about what strangers do with their lives!

Pizer have just completed clinical trials for a new drug in tablet form thats as good as ozempic. The study has been peer reviewed hopefully it will get the green light soon much cheaper and easier to produce vs injections.

That’s very strange, because the US, which has been using it for much longer, with many more patients and in higher doses (Wegovy) hasn’t seen this, despite close monitoring (which has actually picked up more cases of thyroid cancer but with acknowledged monitoring bias)

Your doctor friend is either lying or about to be world famous with their findings which no one else has found

Possibly it would sting a bit more. On the other hand, having invested a significant amount of money in loading weight people might be more likely to maintain the healthier eating habits they've acquired while using ozempic.

So many people seem to object to ozempic etc being used to aid weight loss. It's almost as if some people think there shouldn't be any help. Fat people should either suffer (as a punishment for being fat in the first place) or stay fat (so others can feel superior). Some of the posts on other threads about this have been awful, barely disguised vitriol.

Who is prescribing this?

who is allowed to prescribe medication . What profession? If you think about that you have your answer_

Only selected people should have a gastric sleeve , people that don't graze all day and not super morbidly obese. I struggle to eat enough but my eating habits before was binge+++ eating all my daily calories and more in one sitting thats been a lifetime habit and i have a savoury tooth not sweet. I have a bmi of 20 im 2.5 years our and i have to try keep my weight up. With people I've seen it fail they were really big ,have sweet tooth and constantly graze all day bypass suits them more. Medication is less invasive.

People see being fat as a moral failing which they should have to suffer to lose it. It's a medical condition not a moral issue.

@tenbob You're incorrect - Superdrug don't sell Ozempic. They have Wegovy down as available soon. Other online pharmacies may well have bought in stocks they've earmarked to sell for a nice big profit, which will be why less are available for the diabetics that need them.

Frankly I'm quite shocked at your callous disregard for diabetics. It's not their daily treatment, it's their weekly treatment.

The fact that clinics are prescribing it for people that "just want to lose a few pounds", where their weight won't be impacting their health, is appalling. I take something similar, prescribed by an endocrinologist to try and improve wonky hormones caused by something. These aren't drugs without side effects, and it's shown that the vast majority of people immediately put weight back on when they stop the injections.

The clinics are just trying to get as much money as possible from people with their "quick fix" adverts. They don't even see the patients, or get information from their GP. One quick form, a credit card, and bam, this drug is prescribed.

Wonderdrug?? It's a horror drug, more like! Linked to cancer, heart problems, kidney failure... if you stop taking it, you put on more weight than you lost, so you are doomed to taking it for the rest of your life, destroying your internal organs in the process.

@tenbob - where are you seeing that Superdrug have it? I haven’t seen that.

@Peridot1 - tenbob made it up. They don't have it - see screenshots above.

I think I'm happy with the sleeve it's sorted my binge eating out and my stomach can't grow back.

Superdrug don’t have it. They’ve got “coming soon” for Wegovy and Ozempic isn’t on their website at all.

Destroying which internal organs 🤔

Watch the rates of pancreatitis soar in the coming year.

Have you any links for that?

Very interesting.

Through my husbands work I knew about this coming down the line some years ago.

What's wrong with taking it? I don't because I'm fortunate with my metabolism but I have a few chunkier friends who have started. It's working for them, they can afford it privately, so why not? You could say the same about weight loss surgery - why not just eat small portions?

I will start by saying I am taking Ozempic off label for weight loss and have lost three stone with two more to go. Am now not obese. And presumably not prediabetic anymore. I will probably continue to take it until I reach my goal (if I can get it). Then my plan is to taper down and hopefully come off it but I am aware I may need to stay on it long term.

I don’t think anyone should take it to lose a stone. It is a serious drug with serious side effects.

If I had only had a stone to lose I would not have considered it. I can lose a stone. I’ve done it many many times. It’s the next four that I struggle with. Like most obese people.

Even though I am using it off label I don’t actually feel guilty. It’s been a game changer for me.

I will point out also that Ozempic isn’t the only drug available for treatment of diabetes. Lots of T2 diabetics are on other medications.

I'm T2 diabetic, just like my father was, and just like his mother was... strong family gene unfortunately and not just fatties overeating I take Metformin daily and am frankly astounded that anyone would take a similar drug that rips through your digestive system and makes you feel nauseous all the time just to lose weight.

Anecdotally, some of the people know who take cocaine in part for weight loss (appetite suppressant) have switched over. God knows which does more damage but they're better company on Ozempic'