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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Dd wants to get fat loss injection

162 replies

Behappyandbehave · 06/08/2024 16:40

I don't agree. She says 'everyone is taking it and it works'. She is 20 and ND. Also overweight (in the obese category just). Has social anxiety and vapes too much which makes physical exercise difficult as she's too embarrassed. There is no one for her to exercise with and she won't do it alone. She thinks the injection is the answer. Help!

OP posts:
TiredTilly · 07/08/2024 01:23

From personal experience I would most importantly check if she has any allergies to the ingredients. I have zero allergies and I started my injection 4 months ago. After a few days of the first injection I wasn’t able to walk properly my knees gave way I didn’t understand I thought perhaps I’ve been sleeping wrong. Long story short I ended up bed bound for 1 month as the injection attacked every joint in my body. I was in and out of hospital, on oxygen then inhaler, antihistamines every 4hrs as my throat would close, my whole body had red lumps and I mean everywhere even my face. And that was just from one 10 second stab of the injection. Managed to walk unaided after 2 months. Still to this day doctors have not been able to tell me what ingredient or chemical in the injection I was allergic to.
on a positive note it seems to work for everybody else, just the usual nausea and faint feeling is common which shouldn’t be a problem.

Sweetteaplease · 07/08/2024 02:28

Has she tried diet and exercise??!

TheKeatingFive · 07/08/2024 02:59

We don't know the long term impacts of these drugs, so I would be also be wary for someone young and healthy.

Id be encouraging more conventional weight loss routes.

Galoop · 07/08/2024 05:16

Sorry, but its insane your young daughter wants to inject herself with chemicals because she is too "anxious" to exercise. I'd not encourage this at all, get her to do some healthy eating and so some exercise and set a good example for her. This attitude of a quick fix at such a young age should be concerning

justsaxy · 07/08/2024 06:42

I would definitely support her on this, and encourage her to discuss with her doctor beforehand.

They are much better than SW, WW etc IME. I was using Saxenda from January and now I use Wegovy. I have not been a super responder, and I am losing slowly. My endocrinologist is very happy (she says it is better than losing quickly, for my body and for lose skin). This enables my body to reset its set weight and balance my metabolism again. With regards to the health concerns, I discussed it with my doctor, a dietician and an endocrinologist (who now follows me) for 6 months before I started this treatment. The health risks of being obese far outweigh the possible risks of these injections, and we are tackling the issues now so that when I do come off the medication, I have a good idea about nutrition, how to maintain etc etc.

The common misconception is that people expect this injection to make the fat simply disappear easily and quickly. I see a lot of people posting on social media 'I've only lost 1 lb this week. I am paying good money and expect more!' 🤦‍♀️

It doesn't do this! You still have to do all the hard work. You have to balance your diet, learn what's what. You have to work hard at it.

With meal replacements, WW, SW ETC you are not learning, you are mostly replacing food with fake food stuffs.

UPF is the villain that needs to be tackled here, IMO. I would encourage you and your DD to read Ultra Processed People and The Glucose goddess. The obesity code and why we eat too much are other great informative reads. You can also listen to them on audible, I believe. Cook real food. Once she has learnt about this, she can change her eating habits and then look at starting the injections.

Taking the injections and not making any great changes to her lifestyle won't help her in the long run and she will just put the weight back on when she stops. But they are brilliant at helping you maintain newly implemented habits. I had a terrible Coke Zero addiction. I haven't touched a drop in over a year now. I also gave up alcohol very easily and now will happily have a glass, on special occasions, but no more. My blood sugar was all over the place and I shook a lot. Gone. This didn't happen with WW or SW as they were still encouraging me to have a bar or a meal replacement, none of which is real food. (Which I why I wouldn't encourage her to do these plans. They are BS and create bad habits/yo-yo dieting.) As an ex smoker, I know that I will always be saying no to these things, but that's all down to mental strength. But they did help a lot in breaking the habit!

I understand her anxiety about exercise. I feel the same. But only now that I have lost some weight am I willing to start exercising. Slowly slowly. But I know that losing weight doesn't equal healthy and I have made myself targets and goals to aim for.

Shred the weight first, and then tackle the health and exercise, because they are too different things altogether.

Finally, don't shut the conversation down. She is 19 and an adult, but she is also only 19 and she has come to you to discuss it. Also, please do not buy cheaper versions. These are unregulated and potentially very dangerous!

There is an injectables board, where you will get more information from people using the medication rather than people whose neighbours cousin met someone in a supermarket whose head caved in due to these injections etc etc.

izzy2076 · 07/08/2024 06:42

Some very misinformed attitudes here! I would advise her to hold off for the time being, simply because she is starting ADHD meds which may reduce some of the compulsive behaviours and give her some headspace. She may lose her appetite initially on the adhd meds. The combination of both, at least at the beginning, could cause her to restrict too much. I would advise her to educate herself as much as possible on GLP1 medications and how they work so that her decision is an informed one.

Me personally, I think they are life changing and the benefits to my health have been extraordinary.

Zanatdy · 07/08/2024 06:46

Exercise can be walking. Surely she will go for a walk alone. Up to her I guess but I would be a little worried if my 20yr old was using them. Largely as they will just end up piling it back on again (like any diet if not sustained, but with a regular diet you get used to the hunger and it subsides, I guess with the drug it very helpfully gets rid of the hunger, which will be a problem when it’s stopped). Just my opinion, I have never taken it, I’ve lost weight many times but just reduce calories and increase walking, it works

KeepinOn · 07/08/2024 07:19

I think a GP visit is a good idea, maybe the three of you can create a plan for the next six months and go from there.

If she's uncomfortable at her weight, feeling embarrassed to exercise, it's going to limit her ability to take in new information, create positive habits, etc. So it sounds like the ADHD meds are the first port of call to help her get in a better headspace.

I'm using Mounjaro for weight loss and it's working well for me. My weight crept up over the years, and now I'm peri-menopausal so it's even harder to lose the weight than when I was younger (and pre-DC).

The nay-sayers for this method of losing weight seem particularly vitriolic, but I think there is a swathe of MNers who enjoy being nasty towards overweight people. Oh well, not my problem.

KeepinOn · 07/08/2024 07:21

Also, I think people seem to misunderstand that being in the 30+ BMI category and trying to lose weight for health is a very different situation to being in a normal BMI category and trying to lose half a stone before a beach holiday or whatever.

autistickie · 07/08/2024 14:17

As an ND person who is also considered obese, I am wary of these medications because of the effects on co-morbid conditions.

I don't know what other health conditions your DD may or may not have, but it is very common for ND people to have connective tissue disorders and GI issues, both of which put you at increased risk for gastroparesis- a known potential side-effect of these medications. I have thought about these injections before and, ultimately, I came to the conclusion that for me, with my existing chronic health conditions, it isn't worth the risk.

Obviously this may not be the case for your DD, but it's worth looking into those risks if she's ever had any issues with hypermobility, muscle tone, or her GI system.

linsey2581 · 07/08/2024 18:14

Tell her that because of people like her who want injections as a quick fix to lose weight, there are people with T1 diabetes that are struggling to get their medication to keep them alive.

NeedSomeAnswersPlease · 07/08/2024 18:16

linsey2581 · 07/08/2024 18:14

Tell her that because of people like her who want injections as a quick fix to lose weight, there are people with T1 diabetes that are struggling to get their medication to keep them alive.

It's not a quick fix and there's also no shortage in the UK.

Hucklemuckle · 07/08/2024 19:32

@letsjustdothis

Big risk of thyroid cancer, doesn't actually teach you to eat better, put the weight back on when you stop.
Nope.
Small risk. Smaller than the risks of all the associated diseases relating to being obese.

Bet you are scared of HRT and the MMR too 🙄

MayNov · 07/08/2024 19:42

It’s quite hard to exercise when you’re obese, and it’s reported the injections help with any addiction so it will help her quit vaping. Given her young age she’ll probably suffer minimal side effects. Both my mother and a good friend have managed to get down to a normal weight and quit smoking on the jabs, so I’d personally be supporting my child in this endeavour if she was 20 and obese.

Askingforafriendtoday · 07/08/2024 19:58

Behappyandbehave · 06/08/2024 16:40

I don't agree. She says 'everyone is taking it and it works'. She is 20 and ND. Also overweight (in the obese category just). Has social anxiety and vapes too much which makes physical exercise difficult as she's too embarrassed. There is no one for her to exercise with and she won't do it alone. She thinks the injection is the answer. Help!

Haven't rft but have you at least googled the side effects?
I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole, there are plenty of reasons in your dd's individual circs to make it a very unwuse chouce. Glad to see you've made her a GP appointment, best decision by you. Obviously s/he will tell her in no uncertain terms the risks for her, and refer for other weight loss support, ideally.

FLRT · 07/08/2024 20:00

I would suggest she pay her way or at least as much as she can afford to with you then topping it up. The medication is a tool, not a miracle, it will help curb appetite so she can try and make better food choices. The financial commitment would help with motivation to do this.

I have lost 6 stone since November on Wegovy from Boots online doctor. They have great resources about nutrition, exercise, the psychology around weight loss and have weekly seminars on these topics too. They’re also on hand to help advise on side effects etc too.

Wishing your DD all the best with her weight loss journey, whatever route she takes.

Greytulips · 07/08/2024 20:10

Tell her that because of people like her who want injections as a quick fix to lose weight, there are people with T1 diabetes that are struggling to get their medication to keep them alive

This is sadly true. They pharmacists have to save a number of these for those who need it and those going in with there £200 a week private prescriptions, many who aren’t obese and have lied to obtain the prescriptions are kicking up merry hell.

The private doctors will offer expensive treatments and you’ll find your GP won’t fill them in the NHS (and quite frankly why should they?)

All about the money.

OP why don’t YOU and your DD work together? Go for a walk? Cook fresh food? Get rid of the snacks in the house.

Don’t be a bystander and help her help herself.

NeedSomeAnswersPlease · 07/08/2024 20:12

Greytulips · 07/08/2024 20:10

Tell her that because of people like her who want injections as a quick fix to lose weight, there are people with T1 diabetes that are struggling to get their medication to keep them alive

This is sadly true. They pharmacists have to save a number of these for those who need it and those going in with there £200 a week private prescriptions, many who aren’t obese and have lied to obtain the prescriptions are kicking up merry hell.

The private doctors will offer expensive treatments and you’ll find your GP won’t fill them in the NHS (and quite frankly why should they?)

All about the money.

OP why don’t YOU and your DD work together? Go for a walk? Cook fresh food? Get rid of the snacks in the house.

Don’t be a bystander and help her help herself.

This is not true and it is not a quick fix.

It's easy for those who have never struggled with their weight to weigh in (pardon the pun). Please leave it to those who have experienced it

uggmum · 07/08/2024 20:22

I pay for it for my Daughter.
She is obese. Has tried to lose weight.
Has various health issues. Was diagnosed with type2 diabetes.

The GP and diabetic nurse both agreed to supply weight loss injections but her health authority is not a tier 3 prescriber so she could not have it.

I agreed to pay for it and she has a private pharmacist that prescribed it to her and offers a good coaching program.

She has lost 50 lbs so far and is much happier. Her health is improving.

SilenceInside · 07/08/2024 20:28

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/about-us/news-and-views/our-response-serious-supply-issues-drugs-people-living-type-2-diabetes

Here is the correct info on these injections from Diabetes UK. The global shortage of Ozempic is now being managed, and a separate brand (Wegovy) is available for weight loss.

Also, these injections are NOT £200 per week, they are around £150 - £200 per month.

linsey2581 · 07/08/2024 20:47

NeedSomeAnswersPlease · 07/08/2024 20:12

This is not true and it is not a quick fix.

It's easy for those who have never struggled with their weight to weigh in (pardon the pun). Please leave it to those who have experienced it

I have and still am experiencing with my weight over the past maybe 7-8 years. I’ve been down the route of trying to do quick fixes like tablets shakes all that crap. Im now cutting out all the crap food cooking properly and I’ve been doing park run for over a year. I’m definitely not at my target weight but slowly getting there.

NeedSomeAnswersPlease · 07/08/2024 20:49

@linsey2581 again, these medications are not a quick fix. You do not wake up ten stone lighter overnight.

Mounjaro is not prescribed for use in people with T1 diabetes. Judging people for taking control of their own health is shameful

Greytulips · 07/08/2024 22:27

It's easy for those who have never struggled with their weight to weigh in (pardon the pun). Please leave it to those who have experienced it

Given most of those on these injections are not obese, and they are not ‘struggling’ with their weight, and getting online prescriptions, how are those taking these injections ‘experienced’ in gaining weight?

SilenceInside · 07/08/2024 22:29

Greytulips · 07/08/2024 22:27

It's easy for those who have never struggled with their weight to weigh in (pardon the pun). Please leave it to those who have experienced it

Given most of those on these injections are not obese, and they are not ‘struggling’ with their weight, and getting online prescriptions, how are those taking these injections ‘experienced’ in gaining weight?

Where are you getting your stats from that most people getting private prescriptions are not obese?

NeedSomeAnswersPlease · 07/08/2024 22:41

Greytulips · 07/08/2024 22:27

It's easy for those who have never struggled with their weight to weigh in (pardon the pun). Please leave it to those who have experienced it

Given most of those on these injections are not obese, and they are not ‘struggling’ with their weight, and getting online prescriptions, how are those taking these injections ‘experienced’ in gaining weight?

Source for this?

If there are people who aren't obese taking them, that's one thing.

But as someone who borders on morbidly obese who is about to start a course of them, I can say on behalf of everyone using them that your judgment is not needed