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.

I'm breastfeeding 🤷🏼‍♀️

@ClairDeLaLune guinea pig? Surely you know we are far beyond that point

It’s £300 a month for one person on the highest dose of Mounjaro . There’s absolutely no way anyone is saving £300 on a reduced food bill.

I count myself very lucky that I could afford it and got close to goal weight before I couldn’t justify the price any more. That’s two years paying for the drug.

i appreciate that some people lose weight a lot quicker so it would cost less overall, but also some people can’t come off the drug so would be paying for it for the rest of their lives

Side effects were the main problem for me. Although I lost weight the first month, that soon stopped and my body couldn't deal with the awful side effects. Plus I really couldn't afford them. I very much wish I could afford AND tolerate them.

Thanks for the judgement, though.

Look on the bright side - those of us who find it ineffective will save millions in pensions 🤷‍♀️

MN lose weight you will live longer
Also MN its so not fair that some ppl are getting their place in care homes for free subsidized by the rest of us

Oh yes, there you go again replying to something I haven’t said 😂 Well aware people exist outside of Mumsnet, haven’t said otherwise.

your words were “People should be intelligent enough to read up” If that wasn’t in regard to side effects, what are you wanting them to read up on?

of course you can post what you like, never said otherwise, it just works better as a conversation when you reply to something I’ve actually said, rather than the conversation you hope is happening.

Read up on the pros and cons of the medication.

But I am sure you knew that anyway.

Not sure what your issue is.

Medical reasons mean I’m not allowed them. Wish I could!

That isn’t strictly true. I’m on 15mg and am diabetic. The lower dose controlled my blood sugars but they kept upping the dose

Surely reading up on the pros and cons is assessing the side effects and deciding if they’re worth it for you. But you’ve said you’re not talking about side effects. So I have quite honestly no idea what you’re talking about, no.

my issue (which I’ve made clear more than once now, but happy to do so again) is people who have no vested interest in WLIs as they either don’t need or want them, thinking they have a duty to inform users of the risks. As if we’re too stupid to have done so ourselves.

And that the assumption of stupidity literally only applies to GLP1 users, specifically for weight loss. Not for GLP1 use with diabetes and not for any other medication.

Is that not the same as PPs describing in full, unnecessary detail the risks of obesity?

Like overweight people have just got no idea that it’s bad for them and live in some sort of idiotic bliss where being fat is great for your health?

Even when I was personally comfortable in my obesity, I knew it was unhealthy. Obviously.

Why are you being so combative?

The OP asked why all overweight people didn’t take it. I take 15mg weekly, it’s done fuck all.

I genuinely don’t care whether others are aware of the pros and cons.

I actually agree that everyone has an opinion whether they have it or not, I think the reason is that fat people are always treated like they are thick as pigshit.

It is puzzling that the OP expected most obese people to have already accessed WLI and lost all the weight, so that most people are now not obviously obese. It doesn’t make sense from what we know of the numbers and the timescales, if any thought had gone into the question at all.

A lot of people in the UK are taking WLI, but it’s still only around 1 in 10 of people who are obese. And not all of those will be successful at losing significant amounts of weight. They don’t produce significant weight loss for about 10% of people, and a small number of people will discontinue after a few weeks due to finding their side effects intolerable for them. So of the 1 in 10, you’re looking at a smaller number who are losing weight and they will all be at different points and losing weight at different rates. I was still morbidly obese for many months when I started taking Mounjaro. I would have been one of the 250lbs plus people referred to in the OP!

It’s £300 a month for one person on the highest dose of Mounjaro . There’s absolutely no way anyone is saving £300 on a reduced food bill

Really? I have cut out probably £200 a month with less of a supermarket shop, takeaways, wine and nights out.

I’m being combative because you’re incredibly difficult to hold a conversation with. You keep replying to my posts with responses that have nothing to do with what I said.

I’ve acknowledged what the OP said. The conversation has moved on. Not every reply I’ve given makes reference to the OP.

I wouldn't save much I don't think. I don't do takeaways, rarely go out, drink wine about once every three months and mainly batch cook vegetarian food.

Yeah I think the savings are going to be for people like me that existed on junk food

@Firesidechatter i think we all prioritse how we spend our money. If something is really important to you, you’ll find the money. Yours is the ‘scoff scoff’ attitude, not mine

But if there isn't anything left at the end of the month, no matter how much you cut back, the money is not there. For some people, it will be about priorities; for many others, the financial aspect is a barrier.

The link between poverty and obesity is proven, and I can guarantee that those people are not spending £200 a month on snacks and takeaway pizza. They are eating what they can afford to eat, and that they have the time, energy, and utilities to prepare.

As are you.

You don’t have to have a conversation with me but I was kind of agreeing with you.

@SilenceInside fair enough. You are very correct, I have not looked at the numbers. But I am not so up to date on what is occurring on what happens in the UK.

For some people.

I actually experienced the opposite and my bowels solidified nicely (I have IBSd).

@Frequency I’m definitely not dispelling that, really I’m not. But I still stand by what I say. If something is important to you, you will find the money for it

And I haven't saved anything. We still have our payday takeaway, I don't drink enough to make a difference and the medication hasn't impacted that. We have a every other month date night which has remained the same. The supermarket shop has been unaffected because I'm still cooking the same foods (I have never eaten unhealthily) and as a family of 4, the impact of my reduced portion size is negligible, particularly as I'm craving more protein and less carbs. I imagine for those who ate lots of processed food, they actually find their bill goes up.