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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be fed up with the barrage of weight loss drug content I am exposed to

226 replies

pinkpeonytuesday · 17/04/2026 08:27

I am on Instagram and Facebook and am constantly bombarded with weight loss drug content. I followed a great influencer who I never thought was overweight and now have seen her post she can fit into a size 8 in Zara and her life is infinitely better, I read post after post that these drugs not only made people lose weight - they cured heart disease, IBS etc etc! I see it everywhere, women are just turning into clones of each other - Botox, fillers, the same beige legging combo and now super skinny. How has this drug been allowed to be advertised so widely without any consideration to the damage this is doing to women and young girl’s mental health? Surely people are only being cured of these conditions because they’re not eating all the unhealthy stuff (which can only be a good thing) but this lifetime living in a state of malnutrition (the post I read the other day had user after user saying how they felt dizzy when they stood up) is not healthy! Even if you do exercise - you won’t be getting nutrients. Or is it all sunbeams and moonbeams and should I think about going on it to lose the last stone I want (the fact I am a size 12 and wouldn’t be allowed to go on it because my BMI is normal yet a friend used it to loose weight and now will stay on it until to maintain her size 6-8 frame seems wild. Yet I would love to be a size 8 and I wouldn’t be allowed it) the whole thing seems a joke to me. Am I unreasonable? Is it the unicorn of drugs? And if it’s that safe why can’t I go on it?

OP posts:
RoseField1 · 17/04/2026 18:08

Birdsongisangry · 17/04/2026 15:55

But why would anyone continue unless it's vanity? If that's the reason, own it, and stop criticising other people for wishing they were slimmer!

And that's setting aside that people on here keep lecturing others that they are wrong and bitter for wanting to be slimmer. Do what you want, but don't be hypocritical about it.

Vanity is not the only reason to go under BMI 25!
Why should anyone stop at BMI 25 if they don't have to? That's still the top end of healthy. Many/most people are hoping to come off the medication, it makes more sense to lose enough to have a buffer so if you do gain some then you're still healthy.

RoseField1 · 17/04/2026 18:09

pinkpeonytuesday · 17/04/2026 15:56

@RoseField1stop calling anyone who has questions, concerns or if genuinely feeling a little insecure because all we see is teeny tiny bodies on social media as being the norm. I think most people on this thread have engaged respectfully! I’ve certainly learnt a lot and loads of people have offered genuine insight! Just because average women don’t want to be bombarded with weight loss drug adverts it dosnt make us bitter! For every person that takes the drugs to stop being obese an get to a healthy weight, there will be many people who use them to get to an unhealthy weight an probably will have deep rooted self esteem issues (which the majority of women do have)! Can’t we just have a normal conversation without being called bitter and jealous! It’s so boring!!!

Stop calling anyone what? You didn't finish your sentence. I haven't actually called anyone anything, especially not 'bitter and jealous' as per your last sentence, if that's what you're accusing me of. Are you confusing me with someone else?

RoseField1 · 17/04/2026 18:10

pinkpeonytuesday · 17/04/2026 15:58

@RoseField1god what is your problem? She’s asking a genuine question! You seem insanely defensive

Please quote me if you're asking me to clarify something, as I have no idea what you're referring to

RoseField1 · 17/04/2026 18:11

Allseeingallknowing · 17/04/2026 16:01

It’s worrying that some see 14/16 as obese!

Size 14/16 absolutely can be obese and often is, depending on height. I was size 16 at 13.5 stone, well into obese

RoseField1 · 17/04/2026 18:14

Birdsongisangry · 17/04/2026 16:14

@SilenceInside I know no one is going to be able to answer this, I struggle to understand why it's not a sensible BMI point for someone in your situation to stay at, but that BMI, or indeed a higher one, is considered perfectly fine and healthy for anyone else who hasn't taken WLI. Because the message that I always hear on Mumsnet is that below the prescribing threshold is perfectly healthy and no real need to lose, so why is it fine for person A to sit at that level, who could also be a yo-yo dieter, or have temporarily got there through more traditional means, but not for person B, who has got there through WLI.
For what it's worth I'm not advocating for WLI to be more widely available (at least, not without them being offered alongside proper monitoring and support) I just find it a weird double standard.

It's been explained lots of times. It's ok for the person with obesity to stay on WLI when they reach a healthy BMI, even if that means they continue losing, because it's a medication that treats and prevents obesity. It literally doesn't matter whether a person is BMI 18 or 25 at maintenance, as that's what they are doing. Maintaining weight loss. If you want to get on WLI why don't you try 'eating yourself into obesity' and see how you enjoy struggling with your hormones, appetite and long term metabolic damage? At least you'll be able to get skinny on the medication!

RoseField1 · 17/04/2026 18:18

Birdsongisangry · 17/04/2026 16:53

BMI 25-27 is overweight, not obese, so whilst not 'healthy' it is a level that many people on here say people should put up with and not complain about not having any support to lose weight. It is also a level that providers consider minor enough that they won't prescribe WLI. GPs do not offer help to lose weight other than telling people to lose weight. Whilst there are technically prescribers who will now prescribe at that BMI it is only a very small proportion of people who would be prescribed as it is with very specific health conditions, not based on the BMI itself.

By maintenance dose, I mean having enough of the drug to maintain a healthy weight, rather than suppressing the appetite enough to continue to lose weight. I don't understand why so many people are using WLI to get to and maintain at the lower end of a healthy BMI, if the motivation is only for health reasons. And if people are doing it because they like how it looks, fine, but I think if so they should stop criticising other people for wanting to lose weight too (not saying you have, but others on the thread have and I see it on Mumsnet a lot) And yes, it doesn't make sense to me that someone can be losing weight at say, BMI of 23 with WLIs and that's considered fine if they started at BMI 30, but it would simultaneously be wrong/dangerous/ridiculous if someone at BMI 25 wished they could take it to get to a BMI of 23.

Edited

Do you actually think people on WLI are criticising non obese people who want to lose weight? Why? Where?? The criticism is of people who resent us for being fat enough to access medication for it which is insane. Being obese is horrible, and really hard to address by yourself. I don't give two shits about anyone's weight loss goals but my own. Why would I?

ritala · 17/04/2026 18:32

RoseField1 · 17/04/2026 18:14

It's been explained lots of times. It's ok for the person with obesity to stay on WLI when they reach a healthy BMI, even if that means they continue losing, because it's a medication that treats and prevents obesity. It literally doesn't matter whether a person is BMI 18 or 25 at maintenance, as that's what they are doing. Maintaining weight loss. If you want to get on WLI why don't you try 'eating yourself into obesity' and see how you enjoy struggling with your hormones, appetite and long term metabolic damage? At least you'll be able to get skinny on the medication!

About 15 years ago, I was obese. I joined weightwatchers and over 2-3 years, I lost the weight and got to a healthy BMI of around 23. I then put some weight on and was overweight. I rejoined WW and lost the weight.

Now, I am mid 40’s and the old weight loss tricks aren’t helping any more. I am overweight - my weight went up last year very gradually and it is happening again. No amount of calorie counting or exercise is helping. Maybe it’s an insulin thing or maybe I just can’t stick to 1300 calories a day like I did before.

So… I have been obese (it is so hard!) but lost weight via Weightwatchers. My weight has gone up and down. Why shouldn’t I - or anyone else who is BMI 26 be eligible for WLI? I could easily creep up to obesity again. BMI 26 is still overweight. I want that buffer too.

Note: I am on them now, but they weren’t easy for me to get as I am not obese (at the moment)

RoseField1 · 17/04/2026 18:38

ritala · 17/04/2026 18:32

About 15 years ago, I was obese. I joined weightwatchers and over 2-3 years, I lost the weight and got to a healthy BMI of around 23. I then put some weight on and was overweight. I rejoined WW and lost the weight.

Now, I am mid 40’s and the old weight loss tricks aren’t helping any more. I am overweight - my weight went up last year very gradually and it is happening again. No amount of calorie counting or exercise is helping. Maybe it’s an insulin thing or maybe I just can’t stick to 1300 calories a day like I did before.

So… I have been obese (it is so hard!) but lost weight via Weightwatchers. My weight has gone up and down. Why shouldn’t I - or anyone else who is BMI 26 be eligible for WLI? I could easily creep up to obesity again. BMI 26 is still overweight. I want that buffer too.

Note: I am on them now, but they weren’t easy for me to get as I am not obese (at the moment)

Personally I have absolutely no issue with overweight people taking WLI. I think that's the direction of travel and I believe some providers will treat you at BMI 26, I have just been answering people who don't understand what the difference is between a body that has been obese and recently lost weight, and a body that has not been obese. My body isn't the same as someone else at the same weight just because we weigh the same. My body is damaged by obesity. Even now that I'm not obese!

likelysuspect · 17/04/2026 19:19

Its very concerning that people think clothes size is in any way indicative of your weight/overweight/obesity/health

And of course someone who is a 14/16 could be obese it entirely depends on their height and distribution.

MeridaBrave · 17/04/2026 19:37

ritala · 17/04/2026 18:32

About 15 years ago, I was obese. I joined weightwatchers and over 2-3 years, I lost the weight and got to a healthy BMI of around 23. I then put some weight on and was overweight. I rejoined WW and lost the weight.

Now, I am mid 40’s and the old weight loss tricks aren’t helping any more. I am overweight - my weight went up last year very gradually and it is happening again. No amount of calorie counting or exercise is helping. Maybe it’s an insulin thing or maybe I just can’t stick to 1300 calories a day like I did before.

So… I have been obese (it is so hard!) but lost weight via Weightwatchers. My weight has gone up and down. Why shouldn’t I - or anyone else who is BMI 26 be eligible for WLI? I could easily creep up to obesity again. BMI 26 is still overweight. I want that buffer too.

Note: I am on them now, but they weren’t easy for me to get as I am not obese (at the moment)

Given your current weight and your dieting history I think you could easily have it prescribed by one of the maintenance pharmacies. It may require a GP appointment with them to explain.

MeridaBrave · 17/04/2026 19:38

likelysuspect · 17/04/2026 19:19

Its very concerning that people think clothes size is in any way indicative of your weight/overweight/obesity/health

And of course someone who is a 14/16 could be obese it entirely depends on their height and distribution.

Size 16 is obese unless one is very tall. I’m 5 4 so I am overweigbt at a 12 and obese at 16.

MeridaBrave · 17/04/2026 19:39

RoseField1 · 17/04/2026 18:14

It's been explained lots of times. It's ok for the person with obesity to stay on WLI when they reach a healthy BMI, even if that means they continue losing, because it's a medication that treats and prevents obesity. It literally doesn't matter whether a person is BMI 18 or 25 at maintenance, as that's what they are doing. Maintaining weight loss. If you want to get on WLI why don't you try 'eating yourself into obesity' and see how you enjoy struggling with your hormones, appetite and long term metabolic damage? At least you'll be able to get skinny on the medication!

I think it wouldn’t be a great idea to keep on taking with a BMI under 20, at that point risk serious of muscle loss.

Frequency · 17/04/2026 19:41

I was a 16 when my BMI was 25 because I am 5ft9, have broad shoulders, wide hips, and big boobs. I probably could have squeezed into a 14 bottom in some shops but tops and dresses - nope.

Velvetandleather · 17/04/2026 19:53

likelysuspect · 17/04/2026 19:19

Its very concerning that people think clothes size is in any way indicative of your weight/overweight/obesity/health

And of course someone who is a 14/16 could be obese it entirely depends on their height and distribution.

Clothes size dictates waist size, and unless five foot ten or over, then a 16 will be overweight or obese which every way you cut it, as it’s a 34-36 inch waist.

i think people get quite defensive about that. Or people have lost sight of what a healthy weight is. I was obese at a 16, at just under 5 ft 7.

cantthinkofagoodusername1 · 17/04/2026 19:56

Did you make a post not long ago pretending to be an investigative journalist enraged at how easy it was to get these drugs?

Regardless of that, you are a fully grown adult, and if you don't want to be 'bombarded' with this content, get off social media. If you are feeling bad about your weight because of some so-called influencers, that is your fault. The solution is very simple, just stop looking at this content.

PinkyFlamingo · 17/04/2026 20:00

pinkpeonytuesday · 17/04/2026 10:55

@Idontjetwashthefuckernope! I’m bashing the constant promotion of them - but thanks to Mumsnetters I’m just bitter and have serious mental health issues! 😁

You said you were bitter.

Fizbosshoes · 17/04/2026 20:02

I had an ED in the past and have been recovered/a healthy weight for 20 years+ (bmi 21, size 8, but im very short so i look chunky) but im constantly being drawn to skinny tok and weight loss supplements. Ive had to consciously start looking at other things on Instagram to try and shift the grid to something else if that makes sense.

ButterYellowHair · 17/04/2026 20:12

Theyre not living a lifetime of malnutrition… that would cause death. They are in a deficit until they reach their goal weight. Then they maintain with adequate nutrition. Just like all other weight loss techniques… just easier.

Birdsongisangry · 17/04/2026 20:28

RoseField1 · 17/04/2026 18:14

It's been explained lots of times. It's ok for the person with obesity to stay on WLI when they reach a healthy BMI, even if that means they continue losing, because it's a medication that treats and prevents obesity. It literally doesn't matter whether a person is BMI 18 or 25 at maintenance, as that's what they are doing. Maintaining weight loss. If you want to get on WLI why don't you try 'eating yourself into obesity' and see how you enjoy struggling with your hormones, appetite and long term metabolic damage? At least you'll be able to get skinny on the medication!

I think you've just proven there's no point discussing this with you, from that post. You know nothing about my health history or what conditions I have, you're just assuming that I have it easier because of your own internal bias.

@SilenceInside apologies if my information is outdated, when I read that some providers were prescribing to people from BMI 25 it was proposed it would only be with certain comorbidities, I'm guessing that has changed.

Birdsongisangry · 17/04/2026 20:34

ButterYellowHair · 17/04/2026 20:12

Theyre not living a lifetime of malnutrition… that would cause death. They are in a deficit until they reach their goal weight. Then they maintain with adequate nutrition. Just like all other weight loss techniques… just easier.

Edited

I do think there are risky practices with some providers though. My friend was encouraged to keep increasing her dose even though she had a lot of nausea and appetite suppression so she was having days where she ate virtually nothing or very limited foods. She didn't follow the advice and kept to the same doses for much longer but if she can continued she certainly would have ended up missing vital nutrients. You can be unhealthy for a long time before it causes a risk to life, that doesn't make it ok.

SilenceInside · 17/04/2026 20:38

@Birdsongisangry the providers I mentioned have made a decision to prescribe off licence to people with BMI 25 or higher. It’s on the understanding that the patient understands and consents to the off licence prescribing. That means accepting that there’s no evidence for health benefits yet there are possible risks to taking the medication.

Zempy · 17/04/2026 20:45

Allseeingallknowing · 17/04/2026 16:01

It’s worrying that some see 14/16 as obese!

Well I was obese at size 14 so why is that worrying? I am 5ft 4.

My BMI was overweight at size 12. It’s in the healthy range now I am size 6/8 on the bottom and 8/10 on top.

Velvetandleather · 17/04/2026 21:26

Birdsongisangry · 17/04/2026 20:34

I do think there are risky practices with some providers though. My friend was encouraged to keep increasing her dose even though she had a lot of nausea and appetite suppression so she was having days where she ate virtually nothing or very limited foods. She didn't follow the advice and kept to the same doses for much longer but if she can continued she certainly would have ended up missing vital nutrients. You can be unhealthy for a long time before it causes a risk to life, that doesn't make it ok.

Surely the same can be said about obesity, you can be obese, thus unhealthy for a long time before there is a risk to life. Let’s remember it’s the leading cause of cancer in non smokers, the second in smokers.

so many people argue they are obese or overweight and very healthy, of course it’s not true, run a mile and see how unhealthy the lungs are. How much the muscle and skeleton struggles, Covid showed us this too. What’s happening in our bodies, when we are fat, metablic changes we can’t see, cells that can’t repair, creating cancer environments.

so, we can’t be fat, it’s going to kill us, some people think we can’t take the very safe approved drugs, yet very few people are losing weight naturally and keeping it off. Very few.

so what’s the answer.

these drugs are a huge medical advancement, we have cured obesity. Most fat people know how to lose weight responsibly. Yes some fools abuse it. As some abuse other drugs, make themselves unwell, lose rapidly, lose muscle, damage their bodies, but let’s be honest. Some but few prescribers aren’t great, Most do it responsibly, and the health results are astoundingly positive,

people should be celebrating, instead we have bitching envy resentfullness, attacks, false information, scaremongering

its just really tragic, any other fatal disease and a cure would be celebrated. But a cure for fat women not to be fat. No for some that’s not to be celebrated. That’s something fo attack them over. Just another reason for women to attack women,

Birdsongisangry · 17/04/2026 21:38

Velvetandleather · 17/04/2026 21:26

Surely the same can be said about obesity, you can be obese, thus unhealthy for a long time before there is a risk to life. Let’s remember it’s the leading cause of cancer in non smokers, the second in smokers.

so many people argue they are obese or overweight and very healthy, of course it’s not true, run a mile and see how unhealthy the lungs are. How much the muscle and skeleton struggles, Covid showed us this too. What’s happening in our bodies, when we are fat, metablic changes we can’t see, cells that can’t repair, creating cancer environments.

so, we can’t be fat, it’s going to kill us, some people think we can’t take the very safe approved drugs, yet very few people are losing weight naturally and keeping it off. Very few.

so what’s the answer.

these drugs are a huge medical advancement, we have cured obesity. Most fat people know how to lose weight responsibly. Yes some fools abuse it. As some abuse other drugs, make themselves unwell, lose rapidly, lose muscle, damage their bodies, but let’s be honest. Some but few prescribers aren’t great, Most do it responsibly, and the health results are astoundingly positive,

people should be celebrating, instead we have bitching envy resentfullness, attacks, false information, scaremongering

its just really tragic, any other fatal disease and a cure would be celebrated. But a cure for fat women not to be fat. No for some that’s not to be celebrated. That’s something fo attack them over. Just another reason for women to attack women,

Honestly I'm a bit confused as to how you've responded to what I posted. I wasn't suggesting that my friend shouldn't have had the weight loss drugs, or that using them is worse than the effects of obesity. I do think there should be better support for those who are on them, including about nutrition and how to manage on a very low calorie diet, to avoid people switching one set of health issues for another. Sure the health issues caused by missing nutrients may not be as bad as those caused by severe obesity, but if you're dealing with say, hair loss and poor sleep as a result you're going to feel like shit!

Years ago I worked with a woman who had had weight loss surgery, and she was quite open about it, in part I think because her eating habits were noticeably unusual - she would eat very very small portions of specific food and would decline anything 'off plan' (eg if we went out to lunch she would bring her own food). It wasn't only that she wasn't hungry it was that she knew she would have a bad reaction to it. I remember her telling me that because she was physically limited in the amount of food she ate and the type of food she could digest, that she had to carefully follow the guidance of her surgeon to ensure she remained healthy, in terms of nutrition, as well as taking particular supplements. That makes sense if someone is eating a very low calorie diet for a long time, and I think that type of support should be offered alongside WLI. Maybe they wouldn't need as much compared to the surgery route, but I think people are getting shortchanged paying all the money for prescriptions but not (as far as I'm aware) really getting any support or guidance about how to manage whilst on them (or indeed, when reducing or coming off them)

Velvetandleather · 17/04/2026 22:06

Birdsongisangry · 17/04/2026 21:38

Honestly I'm a bit confused as to how you've responded to what I posted. I wasn't suggesting that my friend shouldn't have had the weight loss drugs, or that using them is worse than the effects of obesity. I do think there should be better support for those who are on them, including about nutrition and how to manage on a very low calorie diet, to avoid people switching one set of health issues for another. Sure the health issues caused by missing nutrients may not be as bad as those caused by severe obesity, but if you're dealing with say, hair loss and poor sleep as a result you're going to feel like shit!

Years ago I worked with a woman who had had weight loss surgery, and she was quite open about it, in part I think because her eating habits were noticeably unusual - she would eat very very small portions of specific food and would decline anything 'off plan' (eg if we went out to lunch she would bring her own food). It wasn't only that she wasn't hungry it was that she knew she would have a bad reaction to it. I remember her telling me that because she was physically limited in the amount of food she ate and the type of food she could digest, that she had to carefully follow the guidance of her surgeon to ensure she remained healthy, in terms of nutrition, as well as taking particular supplements. That makes sense if someone is eating a very low calorie diet for a long time, and I think that type of support should be offered alongside WLI. Maybe they wouldn't need as much compared to the surgery route, but I think people are getting shortchanged paying all the money for prescriptions but not (as far as I'm aware) really getting any support or guidance about how to manage whilst on them (or indeed, when reducing or coming off them)

Ah it wasn’t aimed at you, I was meaning in general after my first comment,