To think the injections for weight reduction should be offered to the unemployed?

[llizzie]

The Government has just announced the intention of offering weight reducing injections to those unemployed who are obese?

AIBU to think it might backfire and cause more problems?

There’s another thread on this but why would it cause more problems?

You are about three threads too late, this has been done to death today

Why don't you tell us how you think it will backfire and what problems it will cause? We can't tell if you're being unreasonable if you're making vague statements rather than being clear what you think.

I'm a bit bitter about the announcement because I'm having to pay for my own and I have a job, but I realise that's just my own selfishness.

Surely they have got more time to exercise if not working. I do know you can stuck in a rut though and depressed so you can't be bothered. Vicious circle.

I think people who are overweight regardless of employment status should get it

I think it should be rolled out to everyone who wants it frankly. Overall it should save money on the nhs.

Not permanently mind. On a you can have it for a year (or whatever for your weight to get to normal) then it’s up to you to keep it off a future course would be charged.

So your think they should be offered to the unemployed but you also think they could backfire and cause more problems ?

Is your title correct?

[AIBU] To think the injections for weight reduction should be offered to the unemployed?

Then in your OP

AIBU to think it might backfire and cause more problems?

So which is it? Do you think it should be offered or do you think it shouldn't because it might backfire or do you think it should but it might backfire or did you miss a few letters in your title so that it was supposed to read "To think the injections for weight reduction shouldn't be offered to the unemployed?" instead?

Can't say whether you're BU or NBU if I don't know what you mean.

For me, I think anyone who's obese should get it (if they want it) until they get to a healthy weight.

I think this is a valid point, if it’s only being offered to the unemployed, because there are plenty of people who would like to benefit from it but despite having an income can’t afford to spend several hundred pounds a month on medication.

What do you suppose the backfire is? Personally, I can’t think of anything worse than being reliant, possibly for life, on a medication with some fairly grim side effects so I’ve nothing but pity for those who think they’ve no other option but to take it to address their weight; but I can’t see any particular wider downside.

I don't think anything. The news item today was that the Government plan to offer weight reducing injections to the unemployed in an effort to get them fit for work.

Your guess is as good as mine as to whether they should or not, or if it will work. Personally I am sceptical, which is why I posted the question.

It isn't being restricted to the unemployed, and Streeting has not said it is.

He has listed helping people back into employment as a benefit of improving health with the injections, along with other benefits like reduced burden on the NHS. But nowhere has he said anything close to it being available only to those who are unemployed.

I only heard the news item today.

I heard the report on BBC for the first time today. It was said the government proposes to offer weight reducing injections to the overweight unemployed to get them back to work.

I know of no other threads which say the same.

There are several comments on the TV news. I want to see what other people think about it.

My reservations are irrelevant at the moment.

Seems a bit mad with the shortage of weight loss injections we already have.. plus the cost to the nhs/drs time spent on the prescribing etc?- surely there are areas that would benefit more from the spending?
Plenty of people manage to work and be obese at the same time!- doesn't seem to make sense to me as a way to get people back to work, but what do I know? I would think making wages higher and unemployment benefits lower would be more effective!

You would think so. Makes you wonder what people do when they are unemployed. Even if they are not obese, walking instead of riding would keep them fit.

Will this announcement make them feel more depressed, or give them hope?

Are most unemployed people obese?

No. Once again that would be the govt absolving people of their own responsibility.

Would like to know how they're going to provide these weightloss injections, given there's a shortage, and even diabetics are struggling to access them.

No I think drugs like Ozempic need to be reserved for those who need them I.e diabetics.

Offering relatively quick fix solutions to weight loss has never ended well.

Probably going to get flamed but the best way to tackle being overweight is to diet and exercise. There really are no short cuts.

Hell, I hear you need to diet and exercise even when on these drugs.

Presumably looking for work?

Job searching can take quite a lot of time up if done properly.

My reservations are whether an employer should be told the applicant was having the injections, and that if an unemployed person agrees to have the drug, and gets a job, then puts the weight back on, will the employer be able to sack them?

Would the person be forced to sign a 'disclaimer' against the injections making them ill? How would that work?

Will it put a further burden on the GP?

Should it be free, or at a reduced rate?

Am I right to have these concerns?

I have. I have added to my post. I really did not want the thread to descend to a debate on just my reservations.

In principle I think it's a good idea, though I do think it could probably be better spent by addressing the crisis in mental health provision and health provision in general so that anyone who can't work due to ill health can also have the same opportunity to get their issues sorted out and have the same opportunity.
Yes we need more productivity but obesity isn't the only reason that people can't work.