To be concerned at the number of people lying to get weight loss jabs?

[sahah]

Not to mention the people buying the unlicensed stuff off of the streets?

I’ve seen it so much lately, this surely can’t end well.

I apologise, sahah, my post reads more needle-some than intended. I think it's due to frustration that these situations arise, that they affect women primarily and nothing is done to safeguard/prevent that.

To be fair, if you look at the side effects of any medication they can be horrible. Does anyone bother to read the side effects of ibuprofen? One of them is coma. But I don't see people cautioning against popping some Nurofen when they have a headache. All medications have side effects and generally the chance of the severest ones are incredibly rare.

The same could be said for you really. I honestly don't know why people feel the need to reply like that! The Op makes a valid point and it's childish to suggest otherwise. Issues like this affect society as a whole and deserves air time.
As a healthcare professional I also find it quite alarming that people are able to buy it online. There's been so many cases recently where it has made people seriously ill. If it's a legitimate prescription fair enough but otherwise there's no way people should use it.

Ok thank you, I really appreciate that and I understand your perspective and frustration.

Some more fun side effects of ibuprofen:

Skin reactions that can result in death, kidney damage, increased risk of heart failure, increased blood pressure, liver damage, anaemia, stomach ulcers and bleeding, heart attacks and stroke, and so it goes on.

Perhaps the real stuff just needs to be more accessible.

Agree, OP.
Also concerned by the people of the "why-do-you-care-so-much-if-it-doesn't-affect-you-blah-blah-blah": such wisdom to live by...

Agree - but then that's exactly what OP is saying. Taking ibuprofen for pain is what ibuprofen is made for. Taking Ozempic for weight if you are obese/a rational adult is (largely) fine.

But OP is talking about (mainly young) people feeling pressure to be really thin - Hollywood thin - not with a healthy weight goal, and who are lying to take ozempic. So a person who is already a healthy weight shouldn't really take a drug for weight loss.

(I'm not directing that at anyone doing maintenance injections, which to me seems like a perfectly reasonable choice if it works for you.)

Thanks for articulating my thoughts so well 🙏

I don’t doubt there are people lying to online prescribers to get it, must be really difficult to police. Would be better if only prescribed by pharmacy in person after consultation. But that doesn’t stop someone sending their fatter friend in as an imposter I suppose.

The under the counter availability is much more concerning IMO. Two women I know are buying theirs from a tattoo parlour FFS! Paying normal monthly cost for 3 month supply. Neither would get prescription from a doctor or pharmacist. One is far too light (about 10 stone) - she had to stop as eating so little her hair was coming out in clumps. The other is/was pretty heavy (about 16 stone, 5”2”) but has very long history of eating disorders - bulimia etc. Has been 6 stone and 16 during her adult life. Lost two stone in 6 weeks. Their choice has been based entirely on cost, no concern re quality or authenticity of product. They could grow a tail and not bloody care if thin enough.

That is absolutely concerning. I have seen very little in the media about the effects on young/growing bodies, nor about the risks of these drugs.

Again, I think if you need an injection to lose weight that is absolutely a legitimate choice, and shouldn't be judged.

Perhaps part of the problem is there are sooooo many celebrities denying they are taking it that there's almost an aura of shame and a sense of 'cheating' which is muting an honest discussion. Based on this thread, there's nothing to be ashamed of at all - you still need willpower/lifestyle change. It's just a willpower boost, same as deciding to structure your eating by fasting certain hours or counting calories.

My concerns too...

It concerns me, but so does the fact that you can walk from one end of the high street and by paracetamol from every chemist/supermarket or laxatives and they aren’t regulated either, yet are used those who suicidally ideating or bulimic. My mother took 78 nylax a day and there was no controls for that either.

As someone who lost 72 lbs pre covid through sheer hard work not to mention misery and mental torture only to regain it all plus more . I wish to bring following to the debate.

I have tried Mourjano and it really really helped to drown out the food noise and never ending dialogue in my head ..but, I found for me, the cost to be prohibitive and also the ongoing media debate and talk surrounding WL injections to be really depressing.

I discussed with my dr that I was going to buy it from an online pharmacy and she saw no reason not to.

My reason not continuing with it, apart from cost, is I'm a coward.
All my life I have believed if I'm not suffering I don't deserve any reward so
I cling to the negative press surrounding these injections and don't 'allow' myself to buy them.

The misery of being over weight consumes my every waking moment and indeed wakes me many occasions through the night.

Food has been my crutch and comfort since childhood as a 'cure' for various issues.

I suggest those who do not understand the need to help obese people,
Have never truly endured the misery of being overweight.

To say eat less move more is 100% accurate .........but not something we can all manage . Nothing is ever black and white there are complex issues at play in most cases of obesity.

@BigComfyTracksuit indeed! It was more in response to the person who said they looked into it but the list of side effects put them off. I just wanted to point out that even the most 'benign' medicines often have a list of side effects that would terrify you if you read them, but no one is up in arms about those things because a) they use them freely and b) having a sore head isn't seen as shameful in the way being fat is.

Wow, that rattled your cage didn't it. Why so aggressive, why shouldn't the question be asked?

This thread wasn't started to criticise obese people who use weight loss drugs.

Someone cynically said to me that there was a big push for "fat is beautiful" and now there is a push to foist these injections on people, i.e. all a Big Pharma thing.

All I know is that the natural way is best of all. In a way, getting fat is TELLING YOU that you are leading an unhealthy lifestyle, so is actually a good warning system - and acting on it by leading a healthier lifestyle is surely the best way.

I would encourage everyone to get healthier/slimmer without injections, but of course each human should ultimately decide for themselves what they do with their own bodies.

If you, an adult with doctor’s approval, decide to take medication to help with both your physical and mental health, there is no need for you to feel guilty about that or beat yourself up over it.

"This thread wasn't started to criticise obese people who use weight loss drugs."

And yet, predictably, that is what happens. Misinformation and prejudice pop up pretty darn quickly.

@Milsonophonia
I agree but people have still seen fit to comment on the 'simplicity' of loosing weight without injections .

Wanting to know more about the side effects isn't misinformation.

Well, in the nicest possible way, they are allowed to believe that that is possible for some people. Lifestyle changes do work for some. If you've trued those and they don't work, then the drugs seem a good bet.

The huge demand for weight loss injections is bound to incentivize the black market supply, the unlicensed version won't be going away anytime soon.

That's not what I'm referring to, people just asking questions about side effects. It's the confident un-evidenced claims that people who have no knowledge make, like taking these injections is "life-threatening", or that they increase cancer risk.