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.

Fruit and veg is not expensive at all. Bananas are 10p each. Carrots even less.

The issue is that fruit and veg isn't filling.

It isn't a myth at all. There's a difference between actual hunger and head hunger, and without the therapy that accompanies weight loss surgery on the NHS, those using injectable drugs will continue to fight the same battle and eat the same shite as before, just in lower quantities. As soon as the drugs stop, so do the effects so the hunger returns, the portion sizes increase and the snacking resumes.

My friend is constantly bouncing between 3 of these drugs. I was out with her yesterday and she drank a fair amount of wine, ate a family bag of crisps and then the food at bottomless brunch.

It isn't a magic solution and the NHS are absolutely correct to treat it with caution as the long term impacts of these drugs are as yet not proven, but studies show most regain lost weight when they stop using the drugs.

Where will the government get all the billions to trillions to fund all of these things? If you put taxes on the "cheap food", how will the low income people eat? Subsidize good food? Nice idea but another many billion a year.

Truly interested on where people think the money will come from to pay for magic shots, good food, infrastructure for better exercise, more mental health care.....the list is endless it seems.

Tax the upf. Still plenty of cheap healthy food available, though subsidising could help as there is lots of healthy food that isn't cheap too. We've lived on a low budget and buying the same cheap fruit and veg over and over does get a bit boring. We cut protein too low at one point, too, and we were hungry. It would be good if protein sources were subsidised and fruit and veg so people could buy a punnet of strawberries, not just bananas.

If you put a 20% tax on upf you could use the money to subsidise fresh food.

A lot of people don't go gym, walk or eat good. I know food is full of rubbish but you can limit bread, pasta ect. Have no idea why people with diabetes get disabled badges or PIP how does that stop you from working?
Labour needs to rearrange the whole system NHS, benefits, tax everything but I have doubt they will

Way to stereotype there. PIP is a benefit for people both in work and out of work. And it’s awarded based on how your illness or disability affects you day to day. If you think it’s easy to get then you couldn’t be more wrong. And I’d recommend you search for the horror stories from people whose lives have been negatively affected by the process. Some people have even been driven to suicide.

It certainly is for lots of people. Diabetes in remission, lower blood pressure, reversal of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, I could go on. For many people, it reverses and puts into remission a great number of metabolic diseases that have been caused by eating a diet which is high is carbohydrates, sugar, UPFs and inflammatory seed oils. I’ve spent a great deal of time researching this, please do yours - for some, reducing or virtually eliminating carbohydrates and sugar, is absolutely the best option. And many of these
people are the ones the NHS is struggling to treat and the OP suggests should have weight loss drugs prescribed to them. Changing your diet is more cost effective than the impact it has on the NHS and public finances

It certainly is for lots of people. Diabetes in remission, lower blood pressure, reversal of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, I could go on. For many people, it reverses and puts into remission a great number of metabolic diseases that have been caused by eating a diet which is high is carbohydrates, sugar, UPFs and inflammatory seed oils. I’ve spent a great deal of time researching this, please do yours - for some, reducing or virtually eliminating carbohydrates and sugar, is absolutely the best option. And many of these
people are the ones the NHS is struggling to treat and the OP suggests should have weight loss drugs prescribed to them. Changing your diet is more cost effective than the impact it has on the NHS and public finances

This is the problem when people say that fruit and veg is 'cheaper'.

Yes it is, but not per calorie because you need far far more to provide the nutrients you need and to fill you up

Of course most people (given the majority are either overweight or obese) eat too many calories but you cant exist on some lentils and carrots

In order to get your protein and calorie and fat requirements from a largely plant based diet you have to eat a fairly high volume and have quite a lot of things to buy.

By research do you mean listening to Chris van Tulleken and Andrew Jenkinson?

I am not suggesting a diet high in processed carbs and sugar is going to be the healthiest. I refer you to my previous comments on my opinions on low carb as they cover pretty much everything I think.

No, although they do have some valid points. Dr David Unwin and the Public Health Collaboration are a great starting point with this way of eating

It needn't be plant based if you buy something cheaper like beef mince or chicken thigh fillets and bulk out with veggies and legumes, then serve with rice or potato. I did cut down the meat too low at one point, and we were hungry. I think to do plant based, you need to use a lot of legumes to veg.

Yes its not new, that research and study was done years and years ago.

Please tell me where you're getting bananas for 10p Aldi they're at least 17p each.....

Mini work out as 13p per banana, but no, not 10p.

There is no rocket science behind weight loss. Education and common sense and sensible eating along with exercise will work every time. Meds might work while they're being taken, and then what?
Anyway think what state we'd be in if instead of dying of obesity related conditions in our 60s we all started living to be 110 - that would be far more costly!

The problem is though that people live for 20 + years with diabetes related conditions which is costly for the NHS. We have an ageing population with a large chunk of 40+ population with co-morbidities which is expensive- not just in terms of healthcare but also lost productivity in the economy (sick days, lower economic activity).

What you’re suggesting is common sense but it is not working. It won’t work. The NHS and our society can’t afford to continue with the status quo - we do need more radical action!

From what I have seen (the STEP trial) the results are not as exciting as expected for the price - people put on average 2/3 of the lost weight back on within a year and in some people the weight loss is minimal to start with. The trial combines injections with behavioural interventions so it’s not as if people are completely left alone to eat as they used to.

This could potentially go the same way as tablets prescribed to alcoholics. Yes they kind of work but after the initial enthusiasm still the only really effective treatment involves enormous amount of hard work and a complete lifestyle overhaul by the person involved.

edit: trial not trail.

Labour absolutely should NOT do this.
Interesting and horrifying discussion of these drugs, and their misuse, on Woman's Hour this morning.. 9.07.24, 1st item

You sound like you have shares in Novo Nordisk tbh.

@CortieTat
This study shows weight loss sustained for 4 years.

It doesn’t say that they discontinued taking it?

It's a very valid point!
If we all got on board with health optimisation and just kept on going and going, not robust enough to do much in the way of work, withered old sticks, drifting around & enjoying our lives . . . for decades and decades.

Interesting words from Wes Streeting, Health Secretary today. It remains to be seen which aspects they prioritise to get people back into work….

One of the things I’ve said to my department and to the NHS is we need to rethink our role in government, and in our country at large.

This is no longer simply a public services department. This is an economic growth department.

And the health of the nation and the health of the economy are inextricably linked. And that means we’re going to be a government that firstly recognises that fact, and recognises that as we get people not just back to health, but back to work, that’s a big contribution to growth.