To NOT use the new wonder drug Ozempic??

[Poopoolittlekitten]

It’s the one that you inject once a week and has amazing weight loss results for most people.
DP has been hinting heavily that I should try it, they would support me, cost would be irrelevant if I wanted to use it ( about £150 a month in the U.K. on private prescription)

I am 100 LBs overweight. I do need to do something about it, although at the moment I don’t have many issues to do with weight , yet. No diabetes, no pre diabetes, blood pressure normal etc but I would qualify for the drug on weight alone.

I am hesitant because I have heard about ‘the rebound’ where studies have shown that most people who stop the drug after a year, pile ALL weight back on very quickly. Plus, side affects.

YABU - try it you need something drastic, short term gain will be worth it

YANBU - you need to have major lifestyle changes and not ‘cheat’ with a drug

I wouldn’t take it. I took a drug to lose weight, it worked, I did lose weight but it also had some very bad side effects some of which I still suffer from. Honestly I’m lucky I didn’t get more serious side effects. I’ve read accounts of people that have taken it & they say the side effects are horrendous.

it's a heavy duty drug with some potentially unpleasant side effects so it's not something you'd want to go into lightly without looking at all the pitfalls around it. Most people who lose weight (losing this drug or any other methods) put the weight back on, I suspect because they don't look into the reasons for their obesity i.e. emotional overeating. I think if you address the emotional side of weight as well as the mechanics of weight loss you'd be more likely to have long-term success.

Having said that it does look like a lot of people are having success with ozempic so I wouldn't rule it out entirely.

YANBU though

Personally I would try to change lifestyle habits first...I have 50lbs to lose and am watching portion sizes, reducing carbs, reducing alcohol and keeping within a reasonable calorie deficit (about 1600 cals a day) plus walking more. It's working. I'm hoping that by the time I've lost the 50lbs, the change in habits will have stuck so the inevitable re-gain won't happen!

A family member has taken it with a prescription for pre-diabetes and its been successful for them. A friend used it privately and has maintained her weight loss but is extremely thin and just seems to never eat now. She's really happy with it but it seems a bit disordered.
I'm above my healthy BMI which I'm working on with a balanced normal diet and regular exercise. I don't think I'll be trying it though unless it's medically indicated.

Can you set yourself a timeline. Use it as incentive. So aim to lose x lb by a certain date. If you are losing carry on if not then reconsider.
I got from an obese bmi to healthy in under 6 months naturally (shifted 5 stone in 8 months) but I was only working pt so had time to cook, plan and exercise.

So it was developed as a Diabetes drug (well, it is a diabetes drug, which has just been rebranded for weight loss). Secondly indicated for people who are overweight with health problems associated with it and thirdly for people who are very overweight.

It is massively expensive in the long run as you pay your doctor his/her fees and then you pay the prescriptions and then you pay to have the regular bloods done. (If as you say you’re looking at a private prescription.) (You can order it online but you’re not even seen by a doctor; you have nowhere physical to go if it goes wrong for you.)

The side effects are brutal and ongoing. If as you say you have nothing else going on stopping you losing weight naturally I just wouldn’t do it. I say that with 8 months experience for medical reasons. I have done all the doses and tried the injections and the tablets. You can do this by yourself. It will always be there in a year’s time if you are still struggling so you have nothing to loose by trying to loose the weight naturally.

I'd he's willing to pay that to help you, it would be better spent on improving your approach to food and lifestyle. So a meal delivery service? Gym membership? Better chance of working long term and improving your health generally. I wouldn't want to use a drug like that tbh

I am not sure it does have 'amazing' weight loss results if all you do is take the medication. It can help but I imagine most people who have lost lots of weight on it do so because they also change their diet and/or can't eat as much because of the gastric issues it can cause, like nausea. So I don't think its a magic fix.
I don't think the rebound with ozempic is any different to anyone who loses weight any other way and then goes back to eating in the same way that caused them to gain weight in the first place.

@Dixiechickonhols that’s a good idea

@Flamingogirl08 he’s a she. Plus I can afford to pay myself but I probably could put the money to better use

There is a lot of discussion in the Health topic on this.

My observation was that a lot of people do appear to be reliant on the wonder drug aspect of not feeling hungry, rather than making any other sustainable change.

I considered it but made lifestyle (diet) changes instead and have lost 22lbs so far this year and don't often feel hungry.

I found it very helpful but I just didnt continue with it because I was squeamish about the injection (which is a bit of a stupid reason)

I had no side effects other than a slight touch of constipation which I soolved with 4 prunes a day

I found it revolutionary in that it cut out the cravings and food demands in my head. My appetite was cut and I was able to make much better choices. It was so freeing.

My OH is on it anyway because he is diabetic, he also has no side effects which is a good thing because obviously he has to take it.

YANBU it’s a huge no from me.

YABU. A drug isn’t going to help you lose weight.

Only you can lose the weight yourself.

Is she worried about your health? What would be helpful to support you as an alternative.

I know someone with type 2 diabetes who was carrying a lot of surplus weight.
they began with this and over the months the weight has literally dropped away.
no reported side effects.

Come and join us on the 10st to lose thread in weight loss chat! The thread has helped me to lose 8 stone so far.

@DuckWithOneWing i will come find you!

Can you share what these side effects are? I've ordered ozempic, this has me a little worried now!

My weight has crept up since having kids, I haven’t always been overweight, so for me it’s something that’s really happened in the last decade or so rather than a life long thing. But at 50c I need to address it or start suffering health consequences

Don't use it if you don't want to.

Personally it's been a literal miracle for me. It makes me feel 'normal' (I've not always been overweight, and I still remember how I felt when I was able to 'naturally' manage my weight.

I don't intend to come off it though, it's shown me that I don't simply have a willpower issue, but a hormonal, chemical issue. I'm also combining it with a lifestyle change. But that lifestyle change is so much easier to do when you actually feel full after eating, when you aren't constantly thinking about food, when you don't have uncontrollable cravings. Yes, I'm still hungry when I need to eat, and yes, I still have occasional cravings BUT they aren't allconsuming.

I've yet to meet someone who has never been overweight who understands the gnawing constant hunger. I was one of those people once!

It depends how miserable you are about your weight and how difficult it would be for you loose weight through 'standard' methods. We all know how to lose weight. We simply need a calorie deficit, so more energy out than in. People over eat for many reasons. If you've been a 'big eater' for some time your stomach will adjust to the new norm and you'll be able to eat a lot more before you feel 'stuffed'. This drug works by keeping you in the 'stuffed' phase for a bit longer however....if you eat for pleasure you will carry on. I've know people eat till they're sick. Everytime I have an indian meal I continue to eat after I'm full coz it's so bloody delicious. Same at Xmas, few more sweeties and nuts, big hunk of cheese. I'm not hungry, I just enjoying that taste. If youre eating is mostly pleasure led you're gonna have to really listen to your body not your mind.
Personally I feel lifestyle changes are the better option but I acknowledge many need urgent intervention or a boost before they're able to do this.
As I said earlier the drug alone won't necessarily lead to weight loss. You have to listen to your body. To do this you need a healthy mind and true motivation. CBT might help with your mind but motivation needs to come from within not from your husband or GP or Mumsnet.
It's good that you have acknowledged the problem and are contemplating strategies.
Good luck

Im getting married next year and have about 60lbs to loose before i know i will feel happy and confident. I wasnt always overweight, sat at a comfortable 10 stone which i was happy with , since having children 8 years ago its been hard to shift the weight back of, mainly because iv been unable to go to the gym whenever i wanted, eat at normal times of the day and arent picking at food then binge eating at 8pm once the kids are finally asleep.

Im currently on a weight loss gym programme and then end of the year i plan to go onto the injections to help lose any weight that is being stubborn. Obv they will only do so much so hoping by the end of the year most the weight is gone but its extremelly tempting to start the injections now.

I know the injections are a quicker fix then changing your habbits and lifestyle but for me its also psychological as i dont feel the way i look as i have never been the size i am currently, always a shock to look in the mirror

Its interesting how judgemental people are about tools to help people lose weight, in a way that is less so about people that use medication to give up fags, booze and heroin.

My father is on this for diabetes its not a "wonder" its serious effort.

I constricts your oesophagus, so eating becomes uncomfortable as well as suppressing your appetite and when your dos reduces your appetite does begin to increase.

I'm not saying don't just making sure you go into it with your eyes open and have a long term plan for weaning off.

If you aren't obese, you won't be prescribed them. So don't be holding out for it help you lose those last few lbs or even last 2 stone unless you are very petite.