The rise of the trend of GLP-1 and the pressure it brings?

[PiriPiriMenopause]

First of all I just want to say I have nothing against the choice people make for the injections at all, I think they’re great and they obviously work for people who need them! I totally get why someone would want to take it, and it really is transforming lives.

But I worry about the pressure this is bringing so the it. I’m a size 14 and pretty normal. At the moment I don’t have trouble buying clothes or getting stuff to fit. My BMI is about 26 which yes is higher than the recommended but not massively so.

So many people I know are on this drug! Honestly, in my normal every day life, I know of at least 15 people who are taking it. It’s working brilliantly and the results are fantastic they’re happy and it’s great, I love seeing how their confidence has turned on a sixpence. Some of the women were larger than me some were not that much larger than me or the same size.

I’m not sure if my experience is a reflection of what’s going on country wide or not. But AIBU to worry about the knock on effect this will have moving forward. I worry that a size 14 will soon become almost obsolete in the shops because people are no longer requiring larger sizes, I worry about the knock on pressure this will bring to those of us who can’t afford to take it or simply don’t want to or can’t take it. I worry about it becoming a culture for people of my daughter’s age and what it means for their confidence in future.

I’m just interested to see if I’m just being paranoid or if this is something other people worry about. There’s always been a massive pressure on women in particular with their size and appearance but this is the first time I’ve ever really felt it so extreme!

Which part?

Because everything I’ve said are facts and common sense.

You seem triggered by this and I’m not sure why.

Are you not in support of getting these injections from the NHS?
Are you not in support of people being given support alongside the injections?

A smoker (who does not require smoking to live) will often give up multiple times in their lifetime.
They will also be more likely to stay smokefree if they receive support alongside if.

Why do you think weight loss is any different?
Which part are you so adamant is wrong?

I get the impression that you’re putting your fingers in your ears and not wanting to hear anything negative about the injections which is just ridiculous and you’ll end up paying the price later on when you’ve put the weight back on.

@Eyeshadow on what authority do you have it that people who use WLI are not making changes to their eating habits? Where is your evidence for this?

Perhaps you are not aware that the NHS has been offering weight loss guidance for decades now. The "balanced plate", eat more fibre, eat less fat, don't eat sweets! If that worked, we'd all be slim - surely? Why do you assume that overweight and obese people must be ignorant of all the "common sense" advice?

Could you elaborate on the "price" that someone is going to pay if they put weight on again?

I’m very ignorant on the matter. Have not done any research into weight loss drugs. I chose natural weight loss as I have had issues with my gall bladder following every single pregnancy of mine.

Im amazed how my appetite did actually change via natural weight loss. When I was my heaviest my cravings were absolutely out of control. To the point I looked into hypnotherapy. But after resetting my diet I’m so relieved to find the body does adjust. There’s many times where I find myself think “hmm I could get a treat and order a takeaway - kids are in bed etc”. But to my surprise I often don’t bother as I just don’t fancy it. And will have a muller yogurt instead.

I do still think GLP1s are a fantastic tool. My BIL is 350 pounds+. Never once been able to lose weight. And he is just absolutely crushing weight loss now. Even with minimal exercise and activity. I’m happy for him as I hope it will unlock his life.

The difference between the injections and any other form of weight loss treatment or dieting is that there is no conscious life style change or brain reprogramming,

This is completely incorrect. I’m maintaining now after a 7st loss and have totally overhauled my diet, exercise habits and am completely aware of how many calories I need to eat to maintain my weight (for literally the first time in my adult life). Tell me how that means I’ve had no conscious life style change or brain reprogramming? Do you think people on these injections merrily shovel (a reduced number of) pies down their throat whilst watching loose women? For most, these injections are far too expensive not to put in any work alongside the weight loss.

This is the problem. Too many people having an opinion on this subject with absolutely nothing to back it up with.

Size 14 is perfectly normal now, but 30 years ago it would have been, well, fat.

My mum was a 14-16 in the 90s and was very much one of the chunkier mums.

I'm a size 14 now and no one bats an eye lid (and 14 now is probably a 16 then).

So I do think as people get smaller, we'll go back to normalising smaller clothes sizes.

There are PLENTY of people managing to get down to a healthy weight using WLI and then maintain that.

@MargoLivebetter
There will absolutely be people who use these injections as a tool to help them with weight loss and therefore will maintain that weight loss.

Just like bariatric surgery, they will be many people who can maintain a healthy weight after surgery.

The issue is that firstly, you cannot say that plenty of people have maintained their weight because the injections have not been available for long enough to get this data.

What the data does show is that a large percentage of people do put the weight back on and that is exactly my argument because you can’t just suppress your appetite and then not expect to gain weight afterwards.
Look at ex drug addicts or ex smokers.

I am pro-injections but there are people who use them with no change of lifestyle, no plan of coming off of them and think that they can just stay on then long term which we know is not realistic but people don’t want to hear it.

How long have you been off the injections?

It’s the highly original ‘if you’re fat, you’re almost certainly also stupid’, isn’t it?
If you’re overweight you’re just too dim to know what to eat to lose weight, or are to thick to be able to cook from scratch…

7 months

Why is it not realistic to be on the injections long term?

This is so weird. You don't have a weight issue so the drugs aren't for you. How much time do you spend pontificating about whether you would take statins or not, or whether you would have chemo or take blood pressure medication? I am guessing no time at all so I cannot for the life of me think why you spend any time commenting about whether or not you would take medication for a condition you don't have.

Not all of us. I could afford it but I fear medication of any kind.

I am doing it the old fashioned way. It‘s slow.

I agree that you can put on weight whatever you do - especially for an emotional eater like me. The longest I kept the weight off for was 8 years and then I suffered a bereavement and it all went to pot. But I know I can do it and maintain the loss without medication so I am sticking with it.

I really believe that a lot of weight loss is to do with a mental game. Getting started is the main challenge. And the“food noise” quietens down if you have the right nutrition. I find that I have to abstain from sugar. If I eat it the food noise goes crazy. But without it my appetite regulates itself exactly as reported by people on medication.

So unless we take them we can’t comment? That’s silly. It’s a general news topic, like cost of living or inflation. You can’t police discussions about general news!

Seconded.

It's one thing if you were to say you personally wanted more data or similar, but 'we know is not realistic' is a very high evidential bar that @Eyeshadow hasn't even come close to clearing.

Also surprised to hear the level of faith some posters have in the capacity and ability of the NHS to deliver dietary advice that actually does anything to tackle obesity. There's bugger all evidence for that, it's just a belief.

I think people ae responding as they are because you are spouting nonsense about people needing to have their brains reprogrammed! Guess what if you come off blood pressure medications your blood pressure goes up, if you come off statins your cholesterol goes up, if you have kidney failure and stop dialysis your kidneys don't suddenly start working! There are thousands of medications out there that people take to control medical conditions rather than to 'cure' the condition, why can't you grasp that this is the same.

Well, perhaps it's a good idea but being 'very thin' is also unhealthy. What one should remember is that what is now a size 14 was, in c.1973 something like a size 18 - 20. I have a jacket from said year which is a 12. It is tiny, with a fitted waist about 24 inches round. And size 12 was considered large in 1973!
We are overweight, and have been consistently lied to by a fashion industry which has increased sizes over time i.e. someone now a size 4-6 could probably
fit into a 50s size 12!
But losing weight by having GLP to reduce appetite isn't going to work because once off the drug appetite returns. The only reliable way is to change one's diet and keep to the new, weight losing diet permanently. Which requires self-discipline and making choices that do not coincide with what one always wants to do.

That’s amazing well done you.

You must be consciously making an effort of what you put in your body and things now though or are you just eating what you want and when you want?

I was responding to a poster who was pontificating on whether she would take them or not. Just out of interest what other medications do you consider to be a news topic worth discussing? IVF is the only other type of medical treatment that I can think of that people seem to see fit to comment on.

@Eyeshadow it certainly didn't sound as though you were pro WLI when you were applauding those who put the effort in to lose weight without them and telling us that those who came off them and put the weight back on would "pay the price" whatever that means!

If only the NHS could offer everyone who was overweight really useful, helpful and individualised proper support - that would be absolutely amazing. How much do you think that would cost and when do you think that might be put in place?

Is it nonsense? Humans establish new habits by laying down new neuro pathways - it takes conscious time and effort to do that. If WLI remove the need to consciously think about appetite and hunger, then of course it makes new habit forming harder.

@Eyeshadowive been on Mounjaro for 18 months and lost almost 11st. Of course I have made major lifestyle changes and plan to maintain them. When I started WLI I was aware that I would need to be on them for maybe 2 years or so to get to target weight and then I would have the challenge of maintaining. I am not stupid, and I am aware of how I got obese. I now have a tool, not a miracle cure, but a tool that is effective in helping me lose weight and to maintain that loss. I know I don’t ever have to be obese ever again. I can stop the WLI, and start again if I need to. Or not if I don’t. Whatever works.

I can only give my 2 cents as someone who had Mounjaro . Basically I was a yoyo with weight all my adult life from size 8 to size 18 . Until I hit my 40’s all I had to do to loose weight was Atkins or similar and I would surely loose a good 40 to 50 pounds within 6 months but then … well the weight was not coming off at all and at my heaviest I was a size 18 bmi 33 . Mounjaro worked but slowly the side effects are awful , I lost 40 pounds in 5 months. I’m currently pregnant so obviously stopped but will go back to it once baby is born .
I honestly think using injections for small weight loss ( less than 20 pounds ) is silly because the side effects , the reeks , the cost are bad . But I think those triply struggling might benefit a lot .
I know at least 5 people in my family and friends who are on it too

You don’t think people need to change their lifestyle in order to lose weight or maintain it?

You don’t think they need to change their mindset?

Of course you need to reprogram your brain.
You can’t go from being morbidly obese (a disease) your whole life, to a healthier weight and to maintain with absolutely no sort of lifestyle/mind changes.

This is the exact issue that I have with the injections.
I am in full support of the injections but it’s these sorts of mindsets that I am against.

The language certain posters are using is so very telling 'making an effort' 'self discipline' 'making choices'. It is obvious that they are unable to cope with their 'fat equals lazy and stupid' narrative being challenged. I would ask them which other medications used to control the symptoms of chronic diseases rather than to cure them, they would warn people off, on the basis that if they stop taking the medication the symptoms return?

Given there's people who can't get cancer treatment in time and women who don't get adequate basic maternity care, I think personalised weigh loss advise should not be high priority for the NHS.