What do we REALLY think about the weight loss jabs?

[Newbabynewhouse]

I've put this on AIBU rather than weight loss jab because I want a neutral audience rather than people who are all using the jab.
What are peoples thoughts on the jab? I'd love to hear from someone educated in the medical field about whether these are actually safe for people without diabetes.
I'm obese and I have lost a stone so far by dieting although it's taking me a long time! I know if I keep trying hard I can lose what I need to. Lots of people I know have started dropping weight from using the jabs and I am tempted however, can't shake a feeling that there's something not quite right.
What I mean by this is... these jabs have been around for years for diabetic people, so why have they only just been 'released' to people despite obesity effecting the NHS for years?
I know a woman who fainted in work the other day with gallbladder issues, she's on the jab.
Also, I'm going to sound a little conspiracy theorist now, but, isn't it odd these jabs became popular straight after people starting refusing to have more covid jabs..?.. I'd love to hear from people with a bit of background info or medical professionals to tell me whether I'm overthinking or if I'm onto something?

80 percent of people have no side effects, and for those who do it’s minor gastro, you can take steps to avpid constipation or nausea, ie plenty of water, a daily psyllium husk, eat a clean and health diet. And the drugs have a half life of 5 days, you don’t like it, just don’t inject again, it’s not a big commitment.

Just ignore it, when the poster is called out they just resort to are you ok, cringe worthy but nothing more.

@Allisnotlost1 if people choose to use WLI off licence and are not obese or overweight with a weight related health condition then that’s their individual decision and doesn’t affect anyone else. They are certainly not the majority or even a large percentage of people accessing private prescriptions for WLI. That’s if you mean people accessing medication legitimately but off licence. If you mean people buying illegal substances from black market suppliers then that’s clearly a bad plan all round for anyone doing that.

You don’t need to be obese, it’s bmi 27 with some weight related health conditions and for some it’s 25. And of course you can keep taking them to maintain, in fact the who recommends it, as weight gain usually relapses. And being a healthy weight is critical for health.

so yes, by default, many many people who use them, in fact I’d hazard the majority are not obese, if we count all those maintaining on them or taking them for weight loss due to health reasons.

@MindThePause does Italy not have prescribing guidelines or can anyone without any checks just buy Mounjaro/Wegovy online? I’d be surprised if that’s the case?

We are, we re shifting the weight off.

You would be wrong. The data shows the opposite. The majority are being used appropriately. Same as we use insulin for a "little bit of diabetes", BP meds for "slightly high BP", inhalers for a "bit out of breath".
As a doctor in this field and previously unhealthy, unhappy morbidly obese GLP1 user, I am so sick of the same old narrative from uneducated uninformed judgemental idiots.

You’re right, I should have specified that I see a difference between obese users and overweight users. Lifestyle is a massive factor, which I thought I made clear, and I’m not aiming this at individuals. But yes, medication is often a lazy option. Same as for people who use statins to reduce cholesterol, or blood pressure drugs, when in fact exercise and diet would do most of the work. I get why people choose those options but they are a symptom of culture, not a medical issue, IMO.

High cholesterol is often familial, so statins are necessary because no amount of dietary change will lower it.

So obesity and different metabolisms make weight loss for many difficult, therefore WLI are necessary.

@Allisnotlost1 so you're talking about a very small minority of users who are overweight but don't have a weight related health condition, and are therefore accessing medication off licence. Not the vast majority of people taking these medications as per the prescribing guidelines? They're the ones who are lazy, culturally speaking?

I am fascinated by the idea that it's lazy to take my GPs advice, well really instruction and insistence, to take my BP medication to control my high BP. I guess you mean culturally lazy? So perhaps GPs should be trained or told to only offer lifestyle guidance to treat high BP and not medication?

This is true!

Did you quote the wrong person?

And what’s being judgey a symptom of? Jealousy? Messed up about one’s own weight?

In fairness, I’m never jealous of people that I judge the decisions of.

If I’m judgmental of their choices, I wouldn’t make the same ones, so therefore aren’t jealous that they have.

Scrolled looking for a comment on these lines.

I hear this a lot and it’s such rubbish. Jealousy and nothing else.

Same as people who say driving and automatic car isn’t really driving.

You can’t cheat losing weight. You’ve either lost it or you haven’t. Cheating would be photoshopping a picture or changing what the scales say. Same as driving from A to B in a manual gets you to the same place as in an automatic.

Good for you if you won’t want to jab. Don’t kid yourself you’re somehow better. Bloody stupid to make getting healthier harder than it needs to be in my opinion. Is wearing glasses cheating compared to just holding the book even closer to your face?

Do you always think having a different opinion than you is ‘being judgey’?

I don’t use WLI but “fair” has nothing to do with it. It’s not a competition. It’s so depressing sometimes that threads can so easily descend into spite and stupidity. People can please themselves, and don’t need to fall out.

Yes, familial hypercholesterolemia is a medical condition. Not everyone with high cholesterol has that though do they?

No doubt weight loss is difficult, but you’re really only proving the point that people
prefer the easier option. And who can blame them when our lifestyles make it so difficult to be healthier?

Oh. That puts it in a different light. 😬

Of course people prefer the easier option, you write that like it’s a moral failing, when it’s a smart decision.

weight loss and maintaining it is incredibly hard to do, no one is fat through choice or they are simply lazy and greedy, no one takes meds as the first resort.

the medication makes it possible, and of course easier, you get to succeed and not suffer, that’s the smart decision.

I think people should mind their own business.

Nobody would be scoffing if a jab came out that helped with other life crippling vices - smoking/drinking/drugs/gambling.

Pack it in with the judgment and conspiracy theories and deal with your own shit.

It’s not a moral failing and I was very clear that I don’t even think it’s about individuals.

You’ve chosen to read my post as ‘judgey’ and accused me of being jealous. It’s faintly unhinged.

Of course people get fat through being lazy and greedy, as well as myriad other reasons. I’ve gained weight through being lazy and greedy and it’s very difficult to lose it, but it’s certainly possible. Pretending people have no agency does no-one any favours.

I didn’t say it was everyone? Did I? In fact I said often not always? Do you have comprehension issues?

The point I’ve proven is that every case is different and weight loss is included in that.

You’re talking nonsense to say I’ve only proven that people choose the easier option, you’ve made that little nugget up!

Exactly what I’ve previously said! Totally agree.

I never said people had no agency, or even hinted at it. I was clear it was a choice.

good luck with your weight loss. And maintaining it. For a lifetime.