Do you think being thin will become less desirable now it’s more attainable?

[thehighgatevampire]

I was just thinking about this, being thin has always been seen as something desirable but not something that everyone could manage for whatever reason but now with weight loss injections it’s something that’s open to many more people.

Things with an element of rarity are always attractive to us but a part of that has now gone wrt to being thin.

just for context I’m what the internet would call mid size and I’d love to be eligible for the injections but I’m not. I could almost definitely lose weight the traditional way but now I know there is an ‘easy’ alternative out there I some how feel cheated in some way because I need to work at it whilst others can get an injection to do it. I know that sounds pathetic but just being honest.

I dint think all these injections are the same and give you the same side effects.
Plenty of time for other ‘types’ to be developed.

But also, in the uk, you currently have to pay for it.
But they’re already looking at making Mounjaro available on the NHS for those who are obese. It’s already used as a diabetes medication.
The idea that most people can’t afford them is going to disappear soon. Not the least because, in the long run, it will be cheaper to have people using those medication to control weight and then avoid the many diseases coming from being overweight/obese and=or having uncontrolled blood sugar.q

Not gleeful - I was just interested.

It's changed even from when I was young. In the 00s it was always about being skinny, lollipop head celebrities everywhere, now it feels even harder because it's not just being slim it's being strong (which probably isn't a bad thing and generally healthier!) but can feel like an additional pressure, it's not just to eat less now it's to be a regular gym goer to get that bum and thighs, muscly arms (but not too muscly of course...heaven forbid)

That's the look du jour, I'm not sure what is next, but struggle to believe being anything other than slim will be the desirable goal for most.

Lots of people do, myself included. That’s good you don’t, genuinely good I’m not being snarky, but lots of people feel grim on it.

However it’s not so bad that I’ve stopped, I have insulin resistance so find weight loss incredibly hard, even on MJ. I average about .75 lbs / week. I would love never to be on this drug again. But still stay slim. Not going to be easy. Not that I’m saying slim people have it easy either.

Didn't know beauticians sold them. What next, vape shops? How do you know what you are buying?

It’s desirable because it’s healthier to not be overweight.

This in spades!!!!!

It’s not cheating, but even if it was, does it matter?

I have lost nearly 3 stone on MJ and whilst it is not that noticeable as I have a lot to lose, I’m sure people probably do think I’m on it. I certainly do if I see people like Michelle McManus for example. I don’t think any less of her for it though.

This is about improving your health who gives a rat’s ass if it’s “cheating”?

It’s an interesting question. I suspect the social connotations of types of thinness may change, just as having a tan morphed from ‘sign of outdoor manual work, hence comparative poverty’ to ‘sign of leisure and sun holidays, hence comparative wealth’ and now the cheapness of fake fans means that the streaky ,dark orange variety holds no prestige at all, and often connotes a low social class and status.

It may be that now a toned, athletic body comes to be prized over one that is simply thin.

What a bizarre comment.

Of course they don't. The one thing that all the detractors from WLI fail to realise is that obesity is the single greatest cause of high blood pressure which in turn leads to heart disease (the second most common cause of death in this country) . Obesity is also a direct cause of about five different cancers.

So of course no longer being obese is fan-bloody-tastic, and now having a healthy BMI means I have a much higher chance of living well into old age.

Going to the gym does NOT make you slim. You have to exercise an
unattainable amount to lose a pound.

Eating fewer calories than you use is the only thing that makes you lose weight. I have lost 5 stone on WLI to get to 'healthy'. There is no possibility I could of succeeded through 'getting down the gym' . It shows ignorance in having any understanding of the complexities of obesity and how glp-1 agonists actually work.

The gym has its place (or whatever strength based exercise you like) but that comes as you get thinner and is vital in the ongoing maintenance of a healthier body and lifestyle.

It's not really 'attainable' as you still need to be able to £200 per month or thereabouts for the injections and even if people can afford a course of treatments, can they afford to stay on them for the rest of their lives?

I suppose you choose what’s the least worst hard option, don’t you? I have some other meds with unpleasant side effects but they are still better than a flare up of the condition

No, I think it will always be desirable.
Who wants to be overweight, seriously?

Attainable? The obesity crisis seems to be the same.

That’s because there was a classist reason to it, similar to colourism, rather than a type of beauty standard.

Working class & poor were often hungry, malnourished, wiry with muscle and their growth was stunted. A chubby woman with soft hands, plump limbs was a woman from a well off family.

The historical default that is always in place is whatever he rich look like, is what is preferred. Today the rich are all thin, personal trainer 20hrs/wk in the gym bodies and so that is what is preferred. The whole fake eyelashes, cosmetic surgery, tanned or not tanned fads are all driven by rich celebrities.

It depends what you mean by thin. Looking half starved has never been attractive.
Slim, OTOH…

I’m not convinced the weight loss jabs will just become the norm. I’m a size 16 and overweight but wouldn’t touch them due to the potential health risks. While I’m well aware there are risks associated with being overweight I’d rather loose the weight through a healthy diet and exercise. The long term side effects are still unknown and there have been deaths associated with them too. While I understand the draw of a quick fix for me long term health is important. I think they are great for people who are hugely overweight but it concerns me that people are using them just to loose a stone or two.

This puts you at the lower end of “healthy” for BMI. So you’re not carrying a few extra pounds at all. Was this post supposed to be goady? Or were you inviting people to compliment you on your size?

In a world where having enough food is not guaranteed (ie most of history) having enough fat to last a while would be a sign of health.

Building and maintaining muscle is a huge factor in health as you age though, there is so much ignorance around this. I don't see why MJ or whatever can't be a part of it though; prioritising protein and doing effective strength exercises along with a sensible amount of calories will mean someone loses fat but builds muscle- that is by far the optimum for health over weight loss alone, or building muscle but also being overweight.

Personally I don’t think people look better thin. So long as you eat well, exercise and don’t carry pounds and pounds, a few curves looks far nicer.

No one is doing this unless they are very petite, or buying illegally.

can I ask have you lost weight through diet and exercise, and now down to a 16?

Exactly. It’s a medication, with all that entails, not a magic pill. I prescribe these drugs as part of my job and the misunderstanding around them frustrates me.

They will not work indefinitely, they have side effects, and you still need to not eat crap. I have had patients who have managed to eat more while on the injections because they didn’t think they had to try.

They are a weight loss aid, to be used amongst other interventions, and they have their limitations (and serious side effects).

Being thin wasn't always considered desirable.

You're right - things change. If everyone is thin there will be a new goal. We'll find new ways of making each other feel inadequate.

I don't think that is universal across all cultures, and all times.