to think WLI have given many people huge health improvements despite the remarkable number of people on MN who are anti WLI for no good reason

[MountainStorm]

There seem to be endless anti WLI threads on here filled with misinformation, faux concern, and thinly disguised jibes at overweight people. I don’t really understand the motivation but that’s another issue.

On the other hand, many people have seen huge improvements in their health, confidence and wellbeing from using WLI. I certainly have.

So I wanted to ask AIBU to say that WLI have given many people huge health improvements and to ask what health improvements have you personally experienced on WLI?

For me

• been able to reduce antidepressant medication
• improved fitness, don’t get so tired or out of breath when walking

I'm not anti WLI at all. I think there is room for some hesitation though. Overall I hope they turn out not to have huge downsides. I have a family member who is type 2 diabetic and very overweight and I hope can benefit from them. I think they would need to be supervised by a doctor though and would be against them accessing them via online pharmacy.

Imo some people have a real issue with anyone they perceive as taking the ‘easy’ route, as if struggling and suffering is the only virtuous and right way to do something. There are also elements of misery loves company, and ‘I struggled/struggle, so you should have to too’.

As someone that has always been at the low end of BMI, I think the weight loss injections are great. They’re helping people make positive changes to their lives.

🤣 I have no skin in the game at all. I’m a perfectly average size 10. Have been petite all my life. I don’t care who wants to take them. I just have a scientific scepticism about the miracle cure they’re currently being touted to be. I hope they are all things they think they are. And if they are they should be made easier to get. I just think we should be cautious as we should with any new drug.

What an odd thing to say.

There are lamentable reasons why people find themselves eating more than they intend to and getting overweight. But solving the politics and economics that cause it is not in the gift of an individual who is suffering the real, painful consequences. The least we can do as a society is to welcome the treatment that is helping so many get out from under the malign influence of Big Food.

We can acknowledge that it would be better if more activity and healthier eating were available to all, without feeling we need to keep people sick and in pain as some kind of political incentive to tackle the root causes of obesity.

There was an article by Devi Sridar in the Guardian the other day where, while at least she did acknowledge the benefits of WLI, she also regretted the reduction in political pressure against the food industry.

I was slightly put in mind of the story that before the Russian Revolution there was a famine in Russia, but Lenin deplored the idea of food aid because is would reduce the incentive of the oppressed to rise up and overthrow the government.

It would of course be better if people didn't have to pay for and take drugs and for some to suffer side effects as a result, but that's not where we are.

I have learned a lot about WLI from threads like this on Mumsnet. Fair to say my mins has been changed.

Interestingly MJ seems to work in addressing other addictions too - there are trials of it being prescribed to alcoholics - and people with ADHD finding it helps with impulsivity. Anecdotally, I had never left a bookshop empty-handed before WLIs!! Perhaps didn't need the dopamine hit of a new purchase.

I think theyre great!

I've always been lower-end if a healthy BMI, but don't have to try to be restrained around food. Its not a sign of intelligence or morality, it's luck (and gut bacteria and other stuff I don't understand,).
We know the long term impacts of obesity are pretty bad, so even if wli have some longer-term impacts they're probably still safer.
Asthma steroids have questionmarks over their linger term impact, but not being able to breathe effectively/ lack of oxygen also has a pretty major impact...

I’ve had a brilliant experience with MJ, it’s transformed my life. 6.5 stone down and have regular periods, reduced my blood pressure to a healthy range, stabilised my
blood sugar, reduced inflammation in my joints. And all without much in the way of side effects. Remarkable. Will be on them for as long as they’ll let me have them, best money I’ve ever spent on myself hands down.
No regrets here.

All these threads where people are apparently concerned about the adverse effects of WLI amuse me
Let us cut to the chase and stop the faux concern .
The truth is that people are consumed with jealousy and envy because some people are losing weight with these drugs and yes this includes those who are slim who resent the fact that former ‘fatties’ are now real competition .
The naysayers completely ignore any of the benefits of the drugs because it doesn’t fit their narrative
Btw , I am not on the injections ,I just think it is strange that people are seemingly concerned about other people’s decision to tackle their weight issues

I think without this the obesity crisis would have kept going up, and on an individual level that’s really tough.

I’d have loved it if scientists here got there first but kudos to Denmark and US

I think what WLI do to the brain is absolutely fascinating. Quite soon after starting on mj I went into a petrol station kiosk, looked at all the chocolates and crisps etc for sale and thought “there’s no food here, just sugar”. I’ve never thought that in my life before, even before I put on weight. Doing a supermarket shop is a completely different experience, so much just doesn’t appeal now. But I still really enjoy eating my healthy food. How does that all work?

The criticism seems to be ‘I don’t need them so why should you’

Obesity is a massive issue and it isn’t because we’re all lazy.

Yes a calorie deficit ia necessary to lose weight, and that’s what WLI allow people to achieve.

It’s a form of HRT. Some people don’t have the level of hormones necessary to make you feel full or stop you from eating. Some of this is genetic, some is due to other factors such as stress, sleep, medication etc.

I work with someone who is very slim. Would have a square of chocolate in the afternoon then save the rest. We used to joke that I had no idea how that was even an option.

Now, on WLI I eat like her, i am able to feep full and stop eating. I don’t think about food all of the time.

My body/brain now behaves the way other people’s does. So just because a person can naturally feel like that doesn’t mean that other people’s bodies work in the same way.

I’ve never struggled with PMT, fertility, felt fine during pregnancy, relatively easy ride with menopause. I don’t tell people who have had a different experience that they should just try a bit harder.

Scientific scepticism my arse. 😂 and that's all you came up with 😂 I bet you are just parroting and haven't looked at a single study or different expert views.

WLI have made me feel happy for the first time in my life. My BMI had crept up to 27 but I was eligible due to having osteoarthritis. Due to this arthritis, I have been left unable to exercise after having been a very sporty person and it affected my weight.

since I was about 9 and aware of my weight, I have been miserable. Constantly either depressed at not eating what I want or hating myself for having eaten too much. It consumed my every waking moment. I didn’t enjoy socialising because I would be too worried about the calories to relax.

Now, 0.5mg of Wegovy (quite a low dose for those who aren’t aware) means I can just go about my life without my mind being overwhelmed by food noise. I’ve lost 3lb in 6 weeks so am being sensible and don’t plan to increase my dose. I am not looking to do anything dramatic.

The WLI have only put me in the position of those who aren’t afflicted by crippling food noise anyway, the kinds of people who say ignorant nonsense like “shouldn’t people just eat less without the injections”

Well, I’m a bit of an oldie but yes, I do think changing food habits has turbo charged the obesity issue.

When I was younger, there were few takeaways and “instant foods”. There were fewer people driving, so walking was common.

Food was more basic - fresh meat/fish and veg. Whether women (usually the ones who prepared the food) were working or not. No one bought many “snacks”. It was (hopefully) 3 meals a day but no more in between. . Fizzy drinks were a rare treat.

Not many food adverts.

Convenience foods are great in some ways, but not in others.

Some modern medications cause weight gain.

However, we are all living in the here and now, so obese people, losing weight (by whatever method), is good for health. 👍

I think food has become a coping mechanism that it wasn't in the 70s or earlier. I'm sure people used something else to cope, like smoking. Especially boomers routinely abused their kids which the following generations are looking to undo and still live with the damage. It's like saying there were no mental health issues like today in the 60s. There were. They were just hidden and coping was different.

Honestly, no, I haven’t read anything much about them. I never claimed I had. I’m not actually all that bothered either way. I don’t need them, no one I love currently needs them. My concerns are simply the two things that pop into my head when this topic comes up.
I have no interest in stopping anyone who needs them having them. I would support the nhs expanding who they fund them for. I hope it continues to do good things for all who need it.
Side effect concerns are valid for any new drug.
Many threads on here also show that affordability is an issue for some self-funding people.

‘Scientific scepticism’? Go on, then, hit us with the science, we’re all ears…

You would think people would be delighted that so many people are investing in their own health - reducing strain on the NHS not just now but in the future. The cost savings will be immense. And it’s not just better physical health, I’m sure mental health is also improved.

Just seems such a win win for society as a whole, not just the people using WLIs

Talk about touching a nerve.

Sorry to disappoint but it's possible to have opinions about WLI's without being either of your two options.

I know several people who've used them...by a quick count, 8 (two family members, one school mum and 5 work colleagues/friends). Well, I probably know more but these are those that are open about them.

From what I see, two have changed their lives...as in, eating healthy foods, taken up significant exercise, seem to be staying on a low dose so they've lost slowly. Talking about the gym after work, always checking their steps on their smartwatch and dragging people for rainy lunch time walks...you can truly see the changes.

The others have dropped huge amounts of weight in months, talk about their hair falling out, don't seem to be exercising at all and simply seem to be barely eating with no other changes. Two of them look fucking dreadful, like grey deflated balloons.

My opinion on WLI's is that they're a fantastic tool as part of a huge lifestyle overhaul. But that unfortunately, many of those on them aren't overhauling their lifestyle at all...they're just injecting and dropping 8 stone in 10 months because they're not eating enough to sustain a five year old.

Do I think 'most' people will sustain the dramatic losses long term? No.
Do I think that many will start suffering with all kinds of health impacts due to the dramatic losses over far too short a time with no other changes? Unfortunately yes.

People like you always ignore the health effects of obesity, many of which are silent until a major medical event occurs one day.

I wonder what your concern there is?

As an obese person myself your arguments are a moot point.

Your attitude is disgusting.

Do you really think that slim people eat less because they are less hungry or they have more willpower?

The nicest thing I can say to you is that perhaps you do think that and are simply misled.

I remember being on a huge amount of steroids for cancer treatment. I could not stop thinking about food and wanting to eat. I gained a huge amount of weight and even though I knew I was overeating I couldn't stop myself. I spent most of the time thinking about food and it was horrible.

It was a good lesson for me to compare slim healthy non steroided me with steroided me. Willpower had SFA to do with it.

Most obese people try anything and everything to not be obese. It is extremely uncomfortable carrying all that weight around.

As far as I can see most of the objections from people like you are that you've lost the opportunity to automatically feel superior to every overweight person you meet.

@TubbyTabby20 I agree. I actually think there should be a much stricter programme rolled out alongside the meds to ensure you are using the injections to allow you make changes.

I think. Yabu as I don’t see loads of people against them at all

Optional, of course, for private prescriptions. No need to nanny people that don't want or need this kind of intervention. In fact, this is available from many private prescribers who offer weight loss services, if people choose it.

The NHS can do this if they feel it worthwhile.

It's really good news and good for the NHS too and so for everybody.