Loving Sarah Vine on This Morning -Ozempic

[AmyFFowler]

She said we live in an obesogenic society and need to be realistic about the need for weight loss drugs like ozempic. She also said we are genetically programmed to eat as much as possible when we can as our ancestors didn’t know when the next wilderbeast would come along. Now we can just sit in our house and deliveroo will bring us food.
Completely agree with all of the above. I am currently working very hard and managing to lose weight without the help of drugs, so I do also ‘get’ the personal responsibility side to this. I just think as a society we are fighting a losing battle if we don’t embrace the new wave of weight loss drugs. Hopefully in time there will be more studies into long term use.

Does the food noise come back though after people stop taking it? How does it control emotional eating once you’ve weaned off the drug?

I doubt it will. I’m going to have to work on myself and develop some other strategies. But it gives me a peaceful head and some breathing space to do so.

@Teentaxidriver

You do realise that some people naturally have a slower metabolism and so on leading to them putting on more weight than others (previously an evolutionary advantage).

Others have hormone imbalances, insulin resistance and so forth.

I happen to agree with you that crap food should be more expensive and decent, fresh food cheaper and better promoted.

But there’s a way to word things.

Yes there are people who have multiple takeaways every week and tonnes of highly processed unhealthy foods.

But most ‘obese’ people are like ‘Jane’, Mum of three who has to work a 50hr week because housing and childcare costs are so enormous and we now need two wages coming into a house, her DH works even more hours and she is saddled with kids, doesn’t have time for gym and endless meal prep. She is the average size 16.

She said we live in an obesogenic society and need to be realistic about the need for weight loss drugs like ozempic. She also said we are genetically programmed to eat as much as possible when we can as our ancestors didn’t know when the next wilderbeast would come along. Now we can just sit in our house and deliveroo will bring us food.

It's almost verboten to what Johann Hari said not only in his book, but on Steven Bartlett's podcast too. Wouldn't be the first time Vine has cherry picked her opinions from someone else. Am rather amused she's quoting someone who is an even worse journalist than herself (and almost on a par with Johnson when it comes to making up quotes and sources).

Yes the hunger will return and maintenance is hardest bit of all, everyone taking it is acutely aware of that. I've had a 6 month break from cravings and overeating and it's really given me space to get into a good healthy routine. I'm very optimistic that I can continue in the same way, but time will tell j guess. Ozempic's regain stats are no worse, better in fact, than those for people who lost weight using any other method.

Both. It increases the production of insulin

That’s interesting that the stats are no worse than for people who lose weight via another method. I read people regain 70% of their lost weight - but if that’s still better than willpower I guess it makes it look better.

Yes the hunger and food noise will return once you stop taking the medication, people know this they aren't daft but what it does is give you time to get your weight down without being constantly hungry and obsessed with food. It gives you time to create a new attitude to eating , exercise and health. It can reverse insulin resistance and help with pcos, and other health problems. Then when you stop taking it you are at a much better jumping off point than just dieting alone.

I agree. I have two grown up kids, one who like me has had food noise and weight issues his entire life and one who has no food noise is rarely tempted by 'nice food' in the house, he isn't bothered by the smell of food cooking or someone else eating in the house, he can walk past a chip shop and it has no effect on him at all, I walk past and I start salivating without even being conscious of it, he only eats when he's hungry and stops when he's full.

Ive been saying the same thing for years and Ive never heard of any of these people. People can come to their own conclusions you know.

@susiedaisy1912 I guess it’s respite from your demons? A bit like antidepressants used to help you see through the fog but not intended to be long term.

My kids are the same. I have two boys, young although the difference is apparent. One eats until he’s full, if you offer him his absolute favourite food he still won’t overeat he’ll tell me his tummy is full. At Easter I just let him have his eggs he will eat a bit and put it away. Like my husband. My youngest is like me, he can always be tempted by more food and will eat his own then when his dad gets back ask for some of his tea.

You can stay on a lower dose to help maintain weight loss but I expect some of the food noise will return it shall depend on individual needs

but as others have said this gives space to be prepared for this, taking small steps rather being in the middle of it and trying to manage without the constant feeling rubbish mentally and physically and promising to be good tomorrow or whatever your relationship is with yourself and food is

I feel very positive and as I have said before the constant food noise took up so much of my thoughts to have that silenced just feels amazing and gives me space that I desperately need

Can't bear that woman

Yes it does. It's only a tool to get you to a healthy weight, but you should use the time to develop better habits, regular exercise, etc.. Arguably it should be able to be taken for life (and there was a study recommening this) - as if you're diabetic or similar.

Yes totally agree. I have had it my whole life and my brother has never had it. He used to be able to keep Easter eggs in their box for weeks, sometimes months.

I remember reading Babe the Sheep-Pig and there's a line in it about pigs always thinking about their next meal, and I was like, "that's me. I'm a pig and I'm disgusting." I couldn't understand how people could just... ignore food.

I’ve read people of a healthy weight wanting to lose a small amount of weight shouldn’t take it - so arguably it shouldn’t be prescribed for life - but I guess that depends on the reasons for that. I’m so tempted to try it but my BMI isn’t high enough, I’ve been a stone lighter and felt better, but I recognise I can’t achieve that right now because my mind isn’t right. I’d love a break from the cycle of diet and food noise.

That made me really sad reading that, I'm sorry you ever thought that about yourself x

Read ultra processed people which will tell you why there is such high levels of obesity. Obviously there are some reasons - medications and other illnesses - that increase appetite/weight gain but for most it’s due to the food industry.

This thread just sums up that for many on MN, whatever fat people do will be wrong.

Thank you, that's really kind of you to say. I did a lot of work over the years including therapy and am in a really good place now! x

Likewise. Even so, here words are almost identical. That's all.

@DialEmforMurder people can’t help but judge you by their own insecurities, at 18 doing weight watchers with my Mum I got to my goal which was 9st 5lb. She asked how much I weighed and said “isn’t that heavy for you” nevermind I looked good. She didn’t like the number. I asked her recently to never remark on my weight again, she said “what even if it’s a compliment” I said it’s never a compliment, it’s just a thinly veiled insult. “You’re looking better now you’ve lost weight” isn’t a compliment. It’s a criticism in disguise.

As an aside, I have a friend is obese. She eats because of childhood trauma - she was abused. She knows she's obese. She knows it's bad for her health, but she feels safer this way. I have never, and would never judge her, or others for being overweight. For many, food isn't a source of energy, it's a comfort and a shield.

While the injectables are great, they don't get to the root cause of why so many people eat and are obese. For many, all these injectables are doing is treating a side effect of trauma, not curing the root cause. This is what needs to be addressed, along with the food companies who design these foods in the labs/UPF.