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.

It was the same with the Covid vaccines People thought they could tell other ppl what to put in their bodies. Seems ppl have got too used to telling others what to do and liked it too much
MN My body my choice? Is it fuck

They do that in the USA. It had no impact of the % of obese people.

It’s the old ‘carrot and stick approach’ that has been proven so many times to NOT work. Regardless of the subject

You’d probably look at me (over 250lb) and wonder why I’m not on them. When the truth is that I am on them and am 4stone+ lighter than when I started and still have about 8 to go till my first goal.

I'm not sure many people have a food budget of less than £113 a month do they? If so I'd love some tips!

I was replying to your comment saying they were £300/month and that it wouldn't even out. I'm telling you I pay nothing like that and it more than evens out. I'm not saying everyone is getting them for £113 but your statement is also not a blanket truth.

Well obviously not considering that OP and some other posters can’t seem to grasp that these WLIs aren’t suitable for everyone and not everyone can take them.

People are shocked and almost in disbelief that some people get bad side effects, even though it is a medication and with any medication some people get bad side effects.

Not everyone has spare money knocking around, not everyone is allowed to take them due to medical issues or not everyone wants to inject a drug which they don’t know the long term implications of…..

I have money.

I don't use Botox because I also have class. 😉

Now Tbf, that’s not an issue with the drug itself. It’s usually a consequence of increasing the dose too fast, too much.
many people don’t need more than the initial starting dose.

The issue here is that people take powerful drugs with no guidance or supervision.
Some underlying digestive issues will get worse with WLI and those need to be addressed.

I mean, quite apart from the money, which is undoubtedly the main reason - I earn pretty well but £300 a month was unsustainable for me - for lots of people they simply don’t work. I’m currently trying Wegovy as it’s half the price but if anything it has increased my appetite. I am gaining weight on it.

Most overweight people are not spending an additional £300 a month on food!
Cheap, unhealthy high calorie food is a staple to many. You don’t seriously think that someone on WLI is going to make a financial saving do you?!
Ive used WLI and now consume a much healthier diet that is definitely not cheap.

Fair enough.
that won’t be the case for everyone
i spend roughly £300 pm on two of us. That includes cleaning and toiletries. DH eats more than I do so mine is probably about £100 a month
I have lived alone and had a £100 budget before.
food cost vary massively for people, my point is that not everyone has £113 spare and it wouldn’t even out for everyone

Although maybe my hair is falling out…

That's the bit that worries me. Currently considering getting a bank loan for the costs involved but still mulling it over.

I’ve seen one poster say she hadn’t realised there were potential negatives. No one else. I’ve seen lots of others acknowledge that yes, they can have side effects, as can any medication, but that these don’t make the drug dangerous for everyone.

I do. I posted both my past diet and my current weightloss staples way up thread.

An example of a cheap day would be:

Breakfast: 1 sachet of porridge, with 1 scoop whey protein and skimmed milk and a banana
Lunch: 2 egg whites, 2 whole eggs, a handful of frozen spinach, a handful of frozen turkey mince, and a greek yoghurt.
Dinner: 250g frozen shredded chickenm stir fried with frozen garlic, large serving of frozen broccolli and cauli, some bisto gravy.

Is it healthy? Nope. Is it cheap? Yes.

Past diet:

Breakast: 2 Iceland sausage rolls
Lunch: Iceland garlic cheese bread
Dinner: Budget chicken nuggets and 1 pack of toffee nibbles

Total price £4 per day, total monthly cost £120, so after WLI @ £113 I would be left with £7 to buy food for the month.

Finances. Also probably one of the reasons they’re large in the first place. Fresh foods are more expensive. Underlying health issues may also be a reason.

I have been surprised by the number of people who don't seem to fully understand the risks of taking WLIs, of obesity or of pursuing a strategy (traditional dieting) that's likely to lead to becoming obese once again.

There really is no low risk option once you're obese!

Well that’s your point now, before that it was that not everyone had £300.

obviously not everyone will have £113, for me it’s far less than the money I was spending anyway. It’s a choice (if you have the money to choose from). I’m not suggesting everyone can afford it. Merely that when people say it’s £300 and won’t even out the cost of food, that’s not always the case either.

Hair doesn't fall out because of GLP 1. It falls out because of rapid weightless and insufficient nutrients. It happens if you go on a crash diet, or if you eat those disgusting meal replacements bars.

This entire thread is literally about why doesn’t everyone take the injections to lose weight.

OP has acknowledged the financial aspect but had not even considered that some people can’t take it due to side effects, messing with other medication etc.

So no it’s definitely not just 1 poster.

There are people like OP actually taking the medication and still having no clue about the side effects but then spouting out that everyone needs to go on them.

My point is the same. I am not attacking anyone for using wld or denying that in their individual circumstances they might cover the cost by eating less. My point has always been that for some (a lot) of people they won’t have that spare, not will it even out in their food budget.
which was in reply to OP stating that it would even out if people couldn’t afford it.
that thought process comes from a place of privilege

For goodness sake.

Average weight loss for people on WLI is 10-20% but as this takes into account people who didn't respond or didn't follow a calorie counted plan and overrode the medication, logically a lot of people lose a lot more. I lost nearly 25%. And of course it allows obese people to become a normal weight, that's the point. It's not 'sudden' but it is what happens!

It’s ridiculous how many people can’t fathom that some people cannot or choose to not use them.

I don’t get why the judgement of not using them.

Perhaps it makes them feel better for using them if they can judge people who don’t.

@StarlingTheConqueror the average weight lost on Mounjaro at the highest dose was 22%. The trial data also is reporting what people lost for the duration of the trial. In real life use, people don’t stop taking the medication after a predetermined number of weeks. I have lost over 50% of my starting weight. I went from morbidly obese to a normal weight, not suddenly of course but over the last 20 months.

@Tacohill I don't see that much negative judgement coming for those who don't use them, but there seems to be a lot of judgement for those who do use them!!!!