Is it the begining of the end for Weight loss injections?

[BeginingoftheendforWLI]

Just watched a report on BBC news, they did an item on a woman who had type 2 diabetes and was prescribed Mounjaro, doctors were impressed she managed to come off insulin within a month. She had some weightloss and now goes to the gym regularly.

Her doctor admitted that there was widespread concern in the medical field that people who were buying it privately for cosmetic reasons not for medical reasons could face some consequences in the future such as muscle growth and bone degeneration and lack of nutrition - they simply don't have this data at present.

Feel like this is going to be big news in the foreseeable future.

Even people who get them through their GP can see it that way. People viewed gastric band the same way. You can't control how people see it.

Yeah I’m quite sure they have lied. But the point I suppose is that it shouldn’t be that easy to do that. I’m not a sceptic of these drugs at all if they are used correctly but I don’t think the controls and checks are stringent enough and that’s irresponsible.

I also know that a lot of people on here who take them say that they are committed to changing habits, exercising, eating properly etc. This may be the case but again, it’s not what I’m seeing in real life. What I’m seeing in real life are people who are eating next to nothing to try and maximise the weight loss at the fastest possible rate. They know it’ll go back on if they stop…so they don’t plan to stop.

It does seem to only be weight loss injections where people are so concerned about their use / side effects / being used to treat obesity which wasn't their original use etc. I take Gabapentin and will probably need to take it forever. It was first licensed for use in the UK in 1993 and I take it for a condition for which is wasn't originally intended for. Because this is how many medications work. Often they have other uses! I don't think I've ever seen any other medication so scrutinised as GLP-1s and that's because people really dislike fat people finally being able to do something to treat their medical condition of obesity.

But that’s a separate problem surely. Lying to buy drugs or buying drugs illegally.

The rules around prescribing medication online have been tightened up since WLI started becoming more and more popular. At the start, not all providers required photos. Now they do, usually ‘live’ photos that are taken on the provider platform and are difficult to fake.

“What about the long term effects “
WL medication may be new in that it’s now widely available for those who would benefit
but actually been around for decades -
we do know the long term effects

https://www.aaas.org/news/innovators-glp-1-obesity-bhaumik-breakthrough

Pharmacists are medication specialists. Much better to be monitored by a specialist than a general practitioner who may have no experience in this area.

The pharmacists DON'T monitor at all though. They just hand these drugs to us at the counter

@Tattiana planning on taking WLI long term is a reasonable choice for some people. It’s their choice, their money and their health. If it works for them, then fine. What is the issue with people making that choice for their own health?

Im also a size 14 and 5'1. It IS obese with a BMI of 30+. You might not like the word but it's a fact. I was a BMI 39 when I started MJ 8 months ago which is morbidly obese. I'm losing slowly and steadily, on a low dose. My blood results are miles better and I feel much more capable and likely to do something active. I think we absolutely have lost sight of a healthy body and see those with them as "thin". Modern life with its cars, sedentary jobs and quick, easily available, UPF food is ruining us as a society. Watch Call the Midwife..see what those cycling all day women had for a meal, a couple of lettuce leaves, half a scotch egg and tomato. Now it's mid morning caramel lattes and a muffin, with no exercise.

Yeah. It is up to them. I’m just saying that this picture that is painted of responsible, sensible use is not the reality for everyone.

They do put a lot of addictive things into food, that is for sure.

@Tattiana can you explain what’s irresponsible and not sensible about choosing to take WLI long term to maintain a healthy weight?

I am confused about how people who aren't overweight (or don't meet the BMI level) are accessing these drugs. It baffles me. I could see more regulation certainly.

I know OP, they are fucking terrible things. I hate seeing all these fat people get thin because it makes me jealous and resentful. I loved being a thin person amongst the fatties.😜

You honestly think that for people who have struggled with obesity for decades just need to try harder?

There are many reasons why people are obese, but statistics show that it is rare for anyone to lose a significant amount of weight and maintain it because of the complex reasons behind it in the first place!

Like every other WLI thread this is just the same - a bingo card of wanting fat people to suffer and worrying about stupid vain people taking them when they’re already a healthy BMI.

How are you confused. It is so easy to access the drug.

You apply online and you have to submit a photo of your weighing scales.

So so so easy to fake.

I will when you explain why you’ve pulled that one part out of my post, completely out of context?

Well I think online suppliers should be doing more checks that their patients don’t have low muscle mass. Perhaps a dexa scan every year if you want to take long term could solve this?

What's irresponsible about taking a drug that's prescribed for me to manage my health? Do you tell other people with long term conditions they should stop taking their medication when they're feeling better?

Baffled by how easy it seems, I meant.

@Nannyogganny I get an NHS prescription for my high BP tablets. No one monitors me for that. I have a once yearly text based interaction with a pharmacist where they ask for my home BP readings and then re-approve my medication. Or, do a telephone call if they have any questions. But usually not. The last two times they didn’t ask me a single thing about side effects, my general health, my weight… But, apparently my private prescription for Mounjaro needs to be monitored in a way that the NHS doesn’t attempt?? Despite the fact that I have to give information about my health, weight, side effects etc each time I reorder Mounjaro, and periodically I have to upload new photos.

But anyone can have an unanticipated reaction to any drug. That's how they work. Some people are allergic to penicillin. It's unfortunate but there is no way to actually avoid the possibility of this. Out of 8 billion people on the planet, yes, some of them will have a body chemistry that doesn't sit well with certain meds. That doesn't mean they should all be banned.

Some suppliers film you weighing yourself. Perhaps the person has some 5kg dumbbells down the back of their trousers.

Nothing, in and of itself. But if you go back and read the actual post I made, you’ll see what I mean by irresponsible use.

I know someone who has a fat friend who buys it but sells doses to other people who definitely do not need it.

The pharmacy have been told but it’s very difficult to prove that the buyer is doing this as he is losing weight steadily.

Meanwhile a friend of a friend looks like she’s dying as she’s so thin. People make stupid decisions when they let vanity get the better of them.

I don’t think this should mean that morbidly obese people shouldn’t be able to get them though.