Sky News discussion about weight loss pills this morning

[ffsarewedoingthis]

They’re going through the daily papers and as per usual, three thin women are saying the same things, “there’s no long term data” (incorrect, these drugs have been in use for decades), “people who don’t need them use them” (very rare, and we don’t ban things like alcohol because kids sometimes get hold of it), “there’s a pressure to take them” (no, there’s not, if anything it’s the opposite).

AIBU to be utterly fed up of this discourse? I’m on WLI and have been for the last two years. I’ve lost ten and a half stone. It has quite literally saved my life.

Why, when they’re having these discussions, do they never discuss the fact that being obese is much much worse than any potential side effects of these drugs? Why don’t they discuss that almost every study coming out has been overwhelmingly positive, with noted positive cardiac benefits? The benefits in terms of addiction etc., are known as well.

The news trying to put people off these drugs is scary, especially when it’s three women who have obviously never experienced what it’s like to be morbidly obese and feeling like you’re suffocating in your own body.

A quick google suggests 66% of the UK population is overweight, 1.3% have a diagnosed eating disorder and 7.5% show signs of disordered eating.

Of course we don’t want these people to get the jabs and no one is saying it should be available in Tesco next to the toothpaste, but I don’t see anyone saying laxatives should only be available from your GP. You have to take a proportionate approach based on the actual risks.

Any comment on PP thinking that’s funny…?

I don’t think by any stretch that they shouldn’t be available, to be clear. In an ideal world, people that need them wouldn’t have to pay through the nose for them, and there’d be better NHS availability.

My mums on them (NHS) and currently they’re not working for her - I’ve actually advised her to move up a dose, not come off them.

But whilst the risks may be low for the general population, and negative stories are anecdotal - the fact they exist means that something somewhere failed those people, and I don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect to see that improved.

For every 10 people without incident, there might be 1 like the colleague I’ve described earlier. I don’t believe that makes it right to just accept that that 1/10 exists.

I’m not anti-WLI, despite not wanting them myself, I’m anti enabled misuse of WLI.

I actually do think it’s hilarious that the faux concern only applies to fat people, but then they’re shamed for being fat too.

It’s not faux concern, and I’m actually not fat shaming anyone.

You’ve completely made that stat up though, before you can come to a conclusion like that you need solid evidence or it’s no different to the anti-vaxxers who disparage whole vaccination programmes and put themselves and their children at risk based on anecdotal evidence of very, very small numbers. How many people over dose on paracetamol? How many suicidal attempts are too many for the drug to not be suitable over the counter despite the millions of people it supports?

If you’re the kind of people who laugh at anorexia (as now two PPs) have, I think it’s best I stop engaging with what is clearly some truly horrendous people.

You’re not horrendous for being fat. I’m fat. You’re horrendous for thinking that ED is a laughing matter, and for thinking that your access to support eliminates the real concerns that actually exist, about people who aren’t you but do misuse them.

I have no interest in engaging with people who think with such selfish motivation, and can either laugh at or endorse the laughing at of vulnerable people.

Disgusting. Both of you. And losing weight won’t make you less so.

Yet in the same breath you criticise us for wanting to use WLIs and calling out the faux concern? If it’s selfish to want to be able to access a medicine that has literally saved my life, I’ll be selfish.

Those numbers matter, regardless of how small, because they’re real people.

Whether it’s 1/10 or 1/100, they should matter, and being able to access something so evidently dangerous to them should be part of the discussion.

Unless there’s an amount of people living long term off 600 calories that you’re happy to have, as long as your own weight goes down?

You don’t have to engage with them, but you can engage with me, I’m not laughing, I accept eating disorders are one of the considerations to be mindful of but the numbers don’t stack up. I’ve raised some very valid points around rationalising risk that you’re not responding to.

Lol sorry you have responded to me. But poorly, you’re being utterly daft, imagine if they didn’t roll out vaccination programmes because there were 0.5% injuries vs 99.5% success? That’s not how medicine nor indeed life works, you’re being far too idealistic.

I’ll just go back to being 26 stone and suicidal then, shall I?

That is an excellent point about no one critisising smokers for using patches. The injections are similar and aid to lose excessive weight.

Too late to reply properly but I'm with you OP, coming up to 8 Stone this end - WLI have, like you, literally saved my life (yes I pay full whack). I genuinely think that if you dont have a true problem with weight/eating etc. (And I'm not talking about making the "right choices") then you will never understand! Well done on your weight loss, I know it also takes willpower on the jabs despite what the naysayers think!

I had started typing a response to your earlier comment, but “daft” apparently. Rude much.

This isn’t a vaccination roll out. If it was, the NHS would be doing it and it could be managed in the ways we’ve been discussing.

It’s accessing private medication, that could and should be better managed.

Thank you!

It really aggravates me when people overlook these actual issues because they just view fat people as moral failures.

Nobody said they were taking them off you. That’s paranoia talking.

They said the risks they do present to some, not all, could be better managed to prevent that from happening.

Your proposals would essentially remove access from people like me though. Those that have caught it before they have long term health issues and struggle to get a GP’s appointment at the best of times.

So as you’ve put it, how many suicidal fat people are acceptable to you if it saves one anorexic?

But you could say that about literally ANYTHING! ...... smoking, drinking, gambling, porn, social media.....the list is endless!

They’re not my proposals. I didn’t mention GPs, apart from when I responded re people who were under the GP already.

My wider, initial suggestions were:

“Face to face checks - online fine, if need be. Video calls instead of just uploading pictures.
(from what I understand, many providers already do this. My suggestion is make it all of them, compulsory)

Evidence of weight and weight loss, anyone can fill a form in.
(again - video call, get on the scales at a pharmacy, just some actual proof)

Physical prescribing where possible to avoid people either getting it when they wouldn’t actually qualify, or getting it to give to others.
(you’ll notice I said where possible and that just means… go to a pharmacy where there’s a human..)

They don’t even have plausible deniability at the moment.

There are people just making themselves look bigger in pictures, or fudging their weight on the scales.

No system is perfect, but one so open to abuse should really have better checks in place.“

So… not impossible. Just involving either more humans, or better forms of contact that add a layer of accountability that isn’t always there
now.

You can’t privately prescribe porn. And if you could, I’d bet it would be regulated.

For someone like me, who lives in a small town, it would be pretty impossible.

Just admit you’re not that interested in fat people getting the help they need

Ha!

I won’t admit that.

Because I’ve got a BMI of 38 myself, a T2 diabetic mother on WLI, and a son with food fixation.

So as much as you’d like me to be anti-fat people getting help… I’m not.

So what's Only Fans then?