Labour should invest in weight loss medications immediately

[HowToSaveTheNHS]

AIBU to think the Labour government should seriously consider rolling out weight loss drugs to the obese population, to tackle obesity, diabetes and cut NHS waiting lists? Traditional public health measures to tackle obesity are not working.

We spend so much money treating disease associated with obesity and it’s only going to get worse as increasing numbers of people are living for decades with multiple health conditions associated with obesity. Even dementia’s leading cause is Type 2 diabetes.

Looking at the Mounjaro thread on here, huge numbers of Mumsnetters are successfully losing weight and improving their health. But people on lower incomes won’t have access because the drugs are expensive.

A course of drugs for a year will surely be money well spent if we can reduce heart disease/ diabetes/ dementia/ cancer etc… even hypertension.

Maybe the government should tax the manufacturers of UPFs and put the money into offering these drugs. They're not just helping with weight loss. There are so many other benefits.

@Cooper77 what a narrow minded view, in that case we shouldn’t treat those who smokes ot vape, anyone who drinks more then the recommended units of alcohol, someone who has an accident if they were driving too fast, someone who falls off a horse or injures themselves doing something that is not necessary ? Someone who is underweight , the list goes on.

@MultiplaLight there are numerous issues why people become overweight, it takes time to become a self righteous dick as well, but many people on mums net manage to perfect it quite well.
disgusting attitude on here towards overweight people, but some of those can loose weight but those that look on others often continue life like that, whilst not being so perfect themselves. Rather be

Yep…when peri and menopause hits I hope some of these posters will be thinking back to what they wrote on this thread. Be warned some of you, you won’t like what’s going to hit you once you reach your forties and fifties…

Rather be overweight than be a person that judges a d looks down on others to be honest. Easy to be nice

This is exactly my thinking. Or if they get put on steroids or another med that causes weight gain. It's karma to be honest and I hope it does come for them.

@AelitaQueenofMars there is also studies looking at genetics and other reasons. Some people can just generally eat more than the next
now I am older i have to sit around 1300 calories just to maintain.

There are some who have skinny genetics. I have a friend who is one of them. We've been friends for fourty odd years. She eats some utter crap and then there's me trying my utmost. She can't and never will understand but she doesn't judge as she's seen with her own eyes how my genetics and medical issues have affected my weight gain. Some of you should re educate yourselves and think yourselves very lucky rather than think you're better than someone who has had a life long struggle.

Exactly. Calorie deficit diet works, it’s not that difficult to do, but does require willpower. Like any diet if you start eating more than you’re burning off you’re going to gain again. I do all the time, as I’m short and my daily calorie maintenance is only around 1500 without exercise. But I know when I get to a certain weight (the border of being overweight for my height, and clothes are tight) I go on a diet. I don’t expect the government to pay for me not to feel hungry. You naturally feel less hungry after a few weeks in a deficit anyway without pumping your body with these drugs and all the side effects

WRONG! So wrong! That's all I can say to this.
I've near on starved myself before weight loss drugs. It certainly was not working.
I hope you find out the hard way one day.

I’m 47, peri menopausal and I know how hard it is to lose weight. I have to eat less than what it says to lose, and it’s hard work. Really hard work. For most people a true calorie deficit works. Sometimes it takes longer to kick in. The medication surely works on the same principle, you’re eating less than you burn, but obviously have help with the hunger. I’m sure there are some people who are exceptions to the science but for the majority a true calorie deficit works

Outdoor gym equipment is in a lot of parks nowadays and walking is free. Unless there is a medical condition or disability the majority of overweight people are obese because of gluttony and poor food choices.

Why should we pay for their weight loss medication and surgery, they are already a drain on the NHS.

Personally for me I think the medication is working on my non diabetic insulin resistance amongst other things. I didn't think the other benefits of this drug were even a thing but it's truly a miracle and should be (in my opinion) available to all no matter your finances. I've seen other mumsnetters come off morphine for chronic pain and all because of these drugs. I think as these additional benefits are recognised in NHS, people who don't want them to be funded will be disappointed. My doctor expects it to be in the next five years but I couldn't wait that long for my own health.

It's not about the people who have been on steroids (small percentage). It's about the majority of people who are overweight and looking for someone else to blame but themselves. Most overweight people could, with hard work, will power and education and lose weight.

@Ereyraa clearly someone who has know idea about obesity and just assume anyone who is overweigh stuffs donuts just for fun. Many skinny people can actually be unhealthy they just don’t gain the weight so it doesn’t show on the outside. Genetics is being looked at more and more , two people with the same activity level and age can need vastly different calories to maintain, if one needs 2000 the other 1200 its going to be much harder for one. Poverty and money have a huge amount of impact as well, you can buy a frozen bag of chips and fishfingers say for £3-4 and get several family meals out of it. Cooking a healthy more nutritious meal is often a lot more expensive. A punnet of strawberries is around £1.80 a multipack value crisp around £1 etc, when people have a limited income they often have to buy what will feed them and last the week. Cant afford a gym membership or even time to fit much in whilst doing 2 jobs and young children etc
its so narrow minded and judgemental to just assume someones situation and a pretty ugly trait to look down on others and assume you know their story.
mumsner is full of such judgemental people when it comes to weight
also as others have said menopause can really affect weight gain in some, I really do hope it affects some of these self righteous ones on here so they can see how hard it is for some daily.and they might actually then understand its not so easy.

True but you can eat less of the fishfingers and chips and still lose weight in a calorie deficit, and fill your plate with some fresh veg, which really is very cheap (or some frozen veg). In principle I agree healthy food is more expensive but you need a calorie deficit to lose weight, not expensive food. You also don’t need to go to a gym, walking is sufficient to burn more calories or plenty of workouts on YouTube

@MultiplaLight its also nit hard to be nice and not a judgemental person and assume you know someones story or lifestyle, rather be overweight than a not nice person. Its views about weight that also send people the other way and cause eating disorders, one remark can sometimes be enough.

My adult DS is one of those who eats mainly junk and is like a rake. I worry for him. I did my best when he was growing up to help him eat a healthy diet. Very very limited McDonald's etc, home cooked meals. But when he became more independent he chose all the sweet, fatty, UPFs anyway, and I have no say.

He's probably fat on the inside and I hope he starts to look more at his health before he gets any food related diseases.

I on the other hand eat for health and am obese.

@Zanatdy yes you can eat less fishfingers but thats not filling, one thing your told when eating healthy is fill your plate with healthy and filling stuff. A plate of chicken , fresh veg etc is going to be a lot more filling than the equivalent fishingers and chips in calories. Ot some egg, avacado, toms etc more filling than couple slices toast and jam. The price comparison is a lot though. You have to do 2 kids pack lunch for a couple days 6 bags criso is 3 days a punnet of strawberries at best 2 days . Many people do not have the skills to cook from scratch as they have never been shown, something we could address at schools etc. foods often labelled so called healthy are not always so people think they are making the right choices. Its so more conplex than many are making it on here

I've not made any assumptions about anyone. It's not judgemental to say that being overweight isn't good for your health.

All this tip toeing around weight hasn't done us any favours on a population level.

I'm giving up on this thread.

I do hope the government will see the multiple benefits of these drugs and tax you all to pay for them. Bye now.

I think the money needs to be pumped into prevention more than treatment.
The figures are shocking.
As it stands, around 60% of adults in the UK are overweight. In another 30 or 40 years, this will be 80% if things (ie. the way food is made, packaged, advertised) don't change.

I havent read the full thread but Im sure the usual will come up

1. we dont know the long term implications/the drugs are dangerous - well they are prescribed to people with diabetes, if they are that dangerous they shouldnt be given to that cohort should they?
2. people will put the weight back on - well research says that people using surgery or medication to manage their weight do better than other methods so its the best chance society has to manage the obesity epidemic, we wouldnt be quibbling about that for any other epidemic
3. it wont address the underlying reason people are obese - well it will because the underlying reason is that people eat too much and the vast majority of people who eat too much do so because food is plentiful, easy, cheap, tasty, sociable and addictive, the drugs help lessen desire. the vast majority of people who are obese dont have hormone or MH issues, its a red herring, people need to be supported to just eat less because its hard to eat less, just like its hard to give up fags and drink but no one argues against medical intervention for those problems

@MultiplaLight you have made the assumption that all overweight people are unhealthy and its a choice ? Do you assume that about those that are underweight and have eating disorders ? Being skinny does not automatically mean someone is healthy and only makes good eating choices, to not understand how hard a battle food is for some is judgemental. If you have never been affected then you can’t comment really as you don’t understand. Drugs are a choice but most of us want to support someone to come off them and understand there and many reasons why done get addicted and not others. Yet when it comes to someone who is overweight its approached very differently.

No I'm making the assumption that most overweight people are by some level of choice. Not all.

I have obese family members due to medication. No judgement there at all.