Why are many severely overweight people not using GLP-1 treatments?

[Donteatmychips]

Just a pondering when I was on a day out yesterday. I know of course that there is an economic cost to GLP1s, but is there really really any excuse to such widespread obesity these days? I was walking around a seaside town and a National Trust property, and I would say a good half of those around were still large. I understand they are not that easily prescribed on the NHS, but I believe you can shop around and find deals from various online pharmacies. Is it just more that people don’t want to?

For full disclosure, I am on a GLP1 that I acquired elsewhere by walking into a pharmacy and just asking for it. Yes, it cost a lot of money and I know I am lucky to be in a position to have done that. I fought being on one for a long time and it’s not a magic bullet, but it does help and I’m grateful for that.

I know that modern versions of obesity are skewed, but I am talking really about people maybe 250lbs or over now, not just a stone to lose.

What do you understand the term food noise to mean?

Money. I’m on them and my food bill hasn’t changed!!

Do you ponder why all ugly people dont have facelifts as well?

Im sure you know the reasons why people don't take GLP1. The money will be prohibitive for many people but also the side effects are many and also these drugs are likely to have to be taken for life.

I also think its fair enough that people dont want to risk osteoporosis, blindness, gastroparesis, pancreatitis, bone and muscle loss, thyroid tumours and other side effects . Not to mention ozempic face. Are they good enough reasons for you?

I've got a BMI of 30.5 so am classed as obese but I'm not too bothered. I can keep up with anything physical I want to do, I eat fruit and veg and am not ill often. Plus I adore food, the idea of not enjoying food is so depressing.

I thought about it but the side effects are too scary. Scarier than the consequences of not taking them. I would rather do it through giving up alcohol, adjusting my diet and exercising. It's not just the side effects, it's widely known that once you start you have to stay on them for life at a maintenance dose. I believe that we don't know enough about the long term effects to do that safely.

Both sides of this argument are a bit grotty aren't they. If you take them you're risking your physical health and appearance apparently, if you don't you're idle and a risk to the NHS and the taxpayer.

Almost as if fat people can't win isn't it...

Food noise is a marketing term developed by WLI developers to trick people into thinking they cannot possibly ever lose weight without WLI because they have "food noise" and healthy people don't.

I have an M&S salad in my fridge that I have been thinking about all day, to the point where I actually got up to look at it a few minutes ago, but I am not going to eat it yet because I'm going for a run soon and I will be hungry afterwards, so I will eat it then. It's still creating "noise" for me. I've just trained myself to live with it. And no, that was not easy, hence why I spent most of my 30s being morbidly obese.

As others have said it's prohibitively expensive for many people plus the side effects can be really unpleasant. So basically pay money you can't afford to feel like crap but look socially acceptable.

I agree but that’s my point.

Literally it boils down to all you have to do to lose weight is eat less calories and move more.

OP is judging people for not using WLIs but that’s no different to someone judging her for simply just eating less and moving more.

It’s like a celeb saying just exercise 4 hours a day and get a professional dietician to cook all of your meals and then you will lose weight - well yes of course you would but not everyone can do that, just like not everyone can take WLIs.

It's always fascinating to see another one of these threads about weight loss injections and the odd thoughts they seem to engender in so many people.

Totally agree with @MyLuckyHelper that fat people are condemned no matter what they choose to do or not do!

Well my great grandmother for one was actually quite plump. As were many people. My grandfathers (born in the early 1900s) were both obese and didn't eat any junk food.

What happens when you come of it

The food noise comes back, and you regain weight because you haven't developed any strategies to cope with it. The point of WLI is that you stay on them for life. A lot of people cannot afford to spend £200+ per month for life, nor do they want to.

You immediately inflate like Violet Beauregarde......

What happens when you stop taking any medication? The effects of the medication stop. So, you can either continue to take it, or choose not to and work at managing to maintain the weight loss on your own. This is a difficult thing to do, regardless of what method you have used to lose the weight.

It's not all about costs. I could afford it if I really wanted to but I hate the idea of taking unnecessary drugs. I am fat enough for them to be prescribed by the online pharmacy.

The cost. The contra indications.

I’m sorry but I cannot stand anyone who judges people on their weight and appearance. It is unbelievably rude and assumes you know all about a fat person when in reality you know nothing.

Yes I am one of those people you judge. No I am not on Fat jabs even though I’m am eligible on the NHS. There is not a chance I’m risking all the side effects just to conform to society’s norm and meet others exacting standards.

Money?

The fact that it fucks with body parts and nobody cares as long as they see the numbers they want on the scale? Who needs a gallbladder anyway. The NHS will fix it... Who needs muscles or strong bones..

That youre pretty much trapped shelling out for the stuff for ever?

The holier than attitude about the stuff gets right on my tits ends. Hardly anyone is doing the extra bits like nutrition and exercise/weights. Storing up issues later on.

👏

For me personally I can’t because I am breastfeeding and also trying to conceive. We currently can’t afford it but theoretically maybe could in a couple of months once our car is paid off.

Some overweight people are going to have medical conditions unrelated to their weight. They may have several. Getting a prescription may have been refused by their GP, consultant or an online source.

They may have also had serious side effects from drugs before or are already on other drugs that are contra-indicated or the effects are unknown with GLP1s.

They may also be waiting to read up to date medical research or for a cheaper method to be sold or other considerations.

It's going to be individual.

Because people are indviduals and you have no clue about what is going on for someone physically, emotionally and financially just by looking at them and thinking "Oh look at that fattie, why aren't they using weight loss jabs". How about just getting on with your life and let others do the same.

a marketing term? I had no idea I had 'food noise' until the WLI's turned it off. Sure, sometimes I feel hungry now but there is no desire whatsoever to run to the cupboard and stuff my face with whatever I find there. I don't have a lack of will power - there are other areas of my life where I am able to clearly demonstrate an ability to hold back if needs be. It's just food I struggle with. Perpetuating the 'fat people are just lazy' thing doesn't help. There is clearly way more to it.

There’s a woman I know of on social media who is actually resistant to the jabs. She’s been taking the biggest dose for a couple of years now and she’s bigger than ever. I guess it only works if you completely overhaul your lifestyle, many simply don’t want to, they want a quick fix with no effort.

Cost is clearly going to be a very significant limiting factor for lots of people. As prices come down when patents run out and other manufacturers and forms are developed, hopefully that financial restriction will reduce.

However, I know a number of people with the funds available who are plenty overweight enough to qualify for a private prescription who are anti WLI and would not use them. Ex-P, despite being overweight / borderline obese, was vehemently against them. He considered them "cheating" and would not even contemplate using them. I have other friends who are concerned about side effects and that puts them off. I find the medical concerns more understandable. We all have to do our own risk assessment and decide what we want to put in our own bodies. Applies to eating crap, smoking and drinking as well as using WLIs.

I think they are fantastic and wish that they had been available years ago. For me the massive health benefits have outweighed the minor side effects.