So if your friend lost 5 stone in 6 months .. would you wonder how ?

[AboutVattime]

Just inquisitive.. my best friend has always been obese. About 22 stone. I have worried about her health silently for a very long time.. she started Mountjaro in April and is now 14 st. I am completely thrilled for her . Her blood pressure is now 'upper' but not ' see your healthcare provider' .. her heart 'murmurs' have ceased.. I am worried that when she come to the end of her treatment she's will just gain it all again. It is without a miraculous drug.. she has struggled to afford...she is incredibly good with money and financially planned every inch of her journey so that her treatment equalled less than her cost of food consumption.. but only in the short term ( she planned 8 months but goal in 6)

My AIBU is ..I see the amazing difference , she is so happy for the first time in a long time after years of weight watchers, slimming world, Cambridge diet.. low carb, NHS gastric band..(15 years ago which helped but only ever got her to 16 stone before piling it back on) .. she has found one of the Mountjaro providers who will prescribe a maintenance dose...

But she can't afford it long term. It will be £189 per month without a discount.. AIBU to say I can pay this for her. She is my very best friend . I love her new found sense of self confidence.. and don't want it to go.. the money is not an issue for me . I am extremely comfortable and struggle to spend. However would love to help someone I love very much.

Just for complete transparency I had crept over into 'unhealthy' zone as also had osteoporosis in knees. Also took Mountjaro for 2 months and know how incredible it is. I have kept it off for 5 months without a maintenance dose .. it just reinforced healthy eating recipes for me . . But I haven't been morbidly obese

I've been considering how I have come across to you. And I have researched the topic a little more.

I didn't take issue with any of 'the huge amount of posts on MN which are quite harmful' because those are individuals discussing their personally held dietary beliefs. Some are self-aware and considerate. Some less so. Some are more extreme and perhaps suffering ED's. But there is free speech and my issue is not with individuals. I actually think those with ED's are victims of threads like these. It is distressing to watch. I'm not being condescending, I struggle myself.

The point I'm trying (and possibly failing) to get across is...

Many people think that the Opening Post and Title of the thread is marketing for a particular product of a large corporation.

The Pharmaceutical company and its Distributers should (at least to my mind) be bound by advertising rules and regulations even on sm; they should be bound by a higher duty of care to the entire audience including consumers who at this point in time should be considered PATIENTS with above a certain BMI and at a greater risk of co-morbidities than risked by the product itself. The company and it's distributers should conduct themselves with a higher degree of corporate ethics than private individuals. They should actually be bound by medical ethics given the nature of the product. It should not be promoted in this way. And taking advantage of free advertising probably makes it easier for fake distributers to post links.

This thread is the first time I've encountered this whole issue. I know, I've been living under a rock! So I'm only just catching up and probably ignorant of a lot of things, but this was my first visceral reaction.

I do not understand why a company who has such a 'wonder' product would promote it in this way. Except I do understand. A race for market share, stong profit motivation and flexible ethics - not always the best combination - alternatively, just maybe they will save the world from T2 diabetes etc. I am not being disingenuous here, I acknowledge the possibility.

And on that score, if it works and quality of life is improved immeasurably in the long term, then that will be truely fantastic. I do genuinely hope it works without harming anyone. That there will be good governance, it's distribution will be well regulated, that it's use will be properly monitored and that it will work really well where it is needed, with as little risk as possible.

I don't believe it, I managed to lose your quote again! My response hopefully just above.

You make valid points. My concerns are that any weight loss drugs are not addressing the real issues which are that

1. Overweight people are eating too much
2. That weight loss does not equal health because it's the unhealthy diet that's the problem.
3. The drug is relatively new to the market and was developed for type 2 diabetics. Most type 2 diabetics have developed the condition due to unhealthy eating habits.

So what I'm trying to say is unhealthy eating habits also cause other issues such as high blood pressure as an example. It can be linked to being overweight but ny no means always.

What seems to be happening here is as another poster pointed out - big businesses are manufacturing upf. This causes weight gain so other big businesses are flogging medication to counter the weight gain.

Honestly, the only way to lose weight and remain relatively healthy is to change to a low salt, upf free diet and go cycling, or running or take up tennis or anything that gets you out there exercising.

I didn't mention it earlier, but my sil died from cancer whilst taking this drug. Who knows whether it was related, but it really didn't help long term.

My plumber lost two stone in two months by stopping eating upf. He now makes his own bread, cooks loads of curries and rice from scratch and eats loads of fruit and veg. He looks great.

It is indeed against the law to promote prescription only medications to the public, and pharmaceutical companies are obliged to adhere to much more than ASA. The PMCPA (Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority) adjudicate these types of complaints, and it could also be reported to UK competent authority (MHRA).

Another one here saying that your thread title doesn't correspond with your post. You're asking how she lost 5 stone in 6 months,then you go on to say she was taking Mounjaro. I think THAT would be the cause of her weight loss!

Just wanted to say thank you so much.

This is either a humble brag or an advert for Mountjaro.

If both of your food consumption is as healthy as stated I don't think you need to pay for an overpriced drug. You do seem to be over-pushing the product if you are both eating healthily. It's not a preventative medicine if everything otherwise is fine!

weight gain is very often emotional … People would be helped also with having counselling to unravel what’s going on and have a sympathetic ear

I'm on month 4. MJ has been an absolute game changer as someone who suffers with chronic pain. I'm in a position whereby I can comfortably afford it, the takeaways and snacks alone probably pay for it each month.

However I still need probably another 3 month and I'd I had to stop now due to money and a friend offered to pay, no strings attached, I would be forever grateful.
However I'm ashamed to say I'm on it. So I don't. Nobody other than my GP knows and that's only as they have to be informed. I wish I had a friend who was just as supportive for my health x

So so kind of you to want to offer this for your best friend but she has to do this long term in another way. You could be paying that for years every month! Some people need to really work on themselves and not have these quick fixes.

I think OP is a provider of this possibly and wants people to buy it. Hence the fishing title to pull you in then the promise of 5 months off in 6 months.

Spot on.

Well that post took a turn for the unexpected! 😂. I was all geared up to tell you to mind your own business - how your friend deals with her weight is her business, then you came over all saving angel! 🤣.

I think that's a lovely gesture and I'm sure your friend would too. The only thing I would caution is that it might create a sense of obligation on your friend's part which might change the dynamic of your friendship. If you were going to do this, I would suggest setting up a standing order for it and agreeing with your friend that neither you no she will ever again discuss her weight or her treatment. The subject should be off the table.

No it really isn't a lot for me. I am retired and now live on a fixed income that is made up of a very generous pension.. that only goes up every year. The cost of her drug will have absolutely no impact on my standard of living.

I would not pay for a drug for someone else. It's an effective drug for the purpose but you don't know the long term consequences. Plus people value things more when they are paying for them. Let her manage her own finances and her own weight.

It’s nice of you but not your fight. Don’t muddy your finances with money.

But I am not being 'nice' !

If it were a struggle for me and I wanted to help that would be 'nice' .. but I am in a fortunate position through luck , work and inheritance that means this is inconsequential to me , and a literal life changer for someone I love very much..

From all the research I have done , and I mean A LOT .. including a conversation with my GP who admitted that 'a lot of her nurses and 3 GP colleagues ' were on it .. that without it she will bounce back to the beginning.. although she did say that as the longitude studies show such a decrease in cardiovascular problems and now also some evidence of dementia prevention - that she expects the NHS will embrace it for those with obesity issues.

My lovely friend is just so happy and with a new found self confidence, has started exercising in public.. (gym) and enjoying it . That would never of happened six months ago as she was just so full of self loathing..

I am going to speak to her tomorrow and make the offer . If she refuses I will not pressure her .

4 GPs and nurses state that she will bounce back to the beginning if not on this drug! Bollocks - this is a scam as nobody in the profession would even suggest that.

I think the OP is saying that the GP she spoke to said it's easy to undo what you have achieved on this drug, and that others in the GP surgery are taking it. I still wouldn't offer, because part of the motivation is for your friend to go without some things (extras, sweet things) to pay for it and to make this positive choice. I wouldn't undermine this at that stage.

I wouldn't want a friend to pay for anything but that's because I do earn enough to live on reasonably myself. I hated it though when I was unemployed and a friend used to buy me dinner occasionally. Embarrassing. So, it might not go quite as you think.

This is a strange post. Can’t quite put my finger on why.

This thread definitely highlights some of the problems with these new miracle drugs.

and I am convinced this is a thinly veiled advert.

That is because this thread is an ad masquerading as a post.

Strange how OP has not denied it. She will no doubt do so now.

Yes, I wondered. Very effusive and detailed answers.

It must be lovely when it’s that simple for you. For some people there is no ‘off button’. Some people are genetically predisposed to insulin resistance and diabetes. Keep your ignorance to yourself please.