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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

What do we REALLY think about the weight loss jabs?

782 replies

Newbabynewhouse · 20/09/2026 21:52

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?

OP posts:
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Zempy · 21/09/2026 07:39

Mosee · 21/09/2026 07:35

Whenever someone tells me they are on one I assume they are shifting themselves non stop.

What does this mean?

Smokingtoaster · 21/09/2026 07:40

Like any medication, it’s risk vs benefit. The more obese you are and with any other issues like diabetes, then the benefits outweigh the risks. If you aren’t that obese then the benefits don’t necessarily outweigh the risks. No idea why you are linking weight loss jabs with Covid jabs. Weight loss drugs are administered as jabs because of the physicichemical properties of the peptides. The pharma industry is working had on generating next generation drugs that are taken as a pill. These will likely take over from jabs in time.

MoneyJo · 21/09/2026 07:40

InterestedDad37 · 21/09/2026 05:21

YANBU - I bet 20 years from now there'll be a slew of compensation lawsuits for unexpected consequences of the jab.

YABU - your 'covid jabs by stealth' suggestion is preposterous.

Will you be bringing your knitting to the gallows?

Onefairfish · 21/09/2026 07:40

I am not sure your post is genuine, but if you really want actual scientific evidence from true medical/scientific sources, why not google the research that was undertaken on these drugs before they were approved?

somanychristmaslights · 21/09/2026 07:40

Zempy · 21/09/2026 07:39

What does this mean?

Assume it’s a typo for “shitting”

WLIcurious · 21/09/2026 07:40

strugglinguphill · 21/09/2026 07:03

I lost 8 stone through diet and exercise. No medication. Yes it was hard and it was slow going but I was motivated and stuck with it. I do find it hard to believe that people say they cannot loose weight without the meds unless of course there are mobility issues. I do feel these injections are almost like an easy option these days

🏆
Here’s your prize for being better than everyone else.

I expect* *you walk everywhere, grow all your own food from scratch and heat your house with logs you’ve cut from trees you felled yourself?
Or are you taking the easy options?

BeardofHagrid · 21/09/2026 07:41

They make you look sick, just look at the Osbornes! I’d rather be large, thanks!

Looneytune253 · 21/09/2026 07:42

Mosee · 21/09/2026 07:35

Whenever someone tells me they are on one I assume they are shifting themselves non stop.

Prob the opp to be fair

Zempy · 21/09/2026 07:43

somanychristmaslights · 21/09/2026 07:40

Assume it’s a typo for “shitting”

Oh. No.

Why would you think that?

WLIcurious · 21/09/2026 07:44

fishonabicycle · 21/09/2026 07:18

The risks associated with type 2 diabetes or obesity outweigh the risk of the jabs. However, there is increasing use of them in the population who aren't obese or diabetic, so these people are subjecting themselves to unnecessary risk. The jabs cause you to lose a higher proportion of muscle and bone density than losing weight without them, so if you are taking them and not doing plenty of resistance exercise, you are possibly fucking over your future self.

The loss of muscle and bone is down to rapid weight loss from reducing nutritional intake, not taking WLIs.

BurnoutGP · 21/09/2026 07:44

This reply has been deleted

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MoneyJo · 21/09/2026 07:45

BeardofHagrid · 21/09/2026 07:41

They make you look sick, just look at the Osbornes! I’d rather be large, thanks!

It's not a direct choice between fat and the Osbornes. There's a huge range in between!

Superstar22 · 21/09/2026 07:45

I don’t understand the fake hand wringing worry of people who say “I worry that they’ll need them for life” or “what happens if they stop”. Like any diet for any size person, if you stop it and eat crap, you’ll get fat again over time. That applies to any weight loss or exercise plan. This is no different, and it’s not the point anyway.

medications for all sorts of illnesses are withheld from certain groups- usually due to cost. There is brilliant dementia medication available in USA but not here as NICE deemed it too expensive & we are unable to provide the infrastructure to monitor people. Cancer treatments, even for children, can be vetoed because of cost. So I appreciate the cost of the jabs is problematic if we allowed everyone in the UK with 1 stone or more to lose to access them.

C sections 15-20 years ago used to have a stigma attached that the woman cheated or didn’t have a normal birth. That’s gotten better but there are still some people who think you shouldn’t get to choose one for XYZ reasons, but reasons ABC are ok. This is nonsense & it isn’t a cheat to have a c section. It’s far from it.

If someone wants to take the jabs to lose weight- 8 stone, 2 stone- what difference does it make to anyone else? Why is it cheating? Why is everyone worrying about them? Why don’t we worry about people taking statins for years? Or worry about other medications that are preventing future ill health like anxiety and depression medication? What if people stop taking those medications- will their illness come back… yes, probably, over time. Are they cheating because they’re not sitting with a therapist for a year and working out their issues? Or are they taking the meds because they’re can’t find/ don’t have access to a therapist and don’t have the certainty that we have a good enough mental health service to actually help them? In these cases aren’t anxiety / depression meds a better/ quicker/ safe enough option?

If you lose shed loads of weight you’ll have baggy skin and lose your muscle if you haven’t strength trained regularly. If you take adhd meds you probably won’t sleep well and need something for that. If you take dementia meds you can feel very sick each morning. If you have statins you are at an increased risk of dementia. If you take sertraline you might get headaches & it might not decrease anxiety.

Nothing is perfect.

So I wish everyone who wants them very well & im glad there is something to prevent ill health in the future due to obesity, insulin resistance, inflammation, and all the other things the GLP-1s might help.

I don’t take them, I don’t need them, I don’t knowingly know anyone who does take them.

BurnoutGP · 21/09/2026 07:46

BeardofHagrid · 21/09/2026 07:41

They make you look sick, just look at the Osbornes! I’d rather be large, thanks!

Oh FFS. Stay fat no one cares. Personally I look and feel healthier than I for decades.

BillyBites · 21/09/2026 07:46

Oh, what a surprise. The OP hasn’t engaged with the discussion.

Chickpeacurrywithrice · 21/09/2026 07:47

BeardofHagrid · 21/09/2026 07:41

They make you look sick, just look at the Osbornes! I’d rather be large, thanks!

Oh course the Osbornes are the reflection of all users 🙄

MoneyJo · 21/09/2026 07:47

For anyone actually interested in the science and why doctors recommend the jabs I suggest listening to Hunger Game on BBC Sounds. It was a podcast on radio 4 by Giles Yeo, a very respected scientist researching obesity.

HonorBound · 21/09/2026 07:48

The side affects must outweigh the disease they are treating imo

weekly weigh ins and group support are a very valuable underestimated aid for losing weight

evenen jyst getting the weekly weigh in is an aid - so weighing in with someone each Monday is beneficial

these are my opinions based on research over the tears

darkdaysareover · 21/09/2026 07:50

OonaStubbs · 20/09/2026 23:32

I don't like them at all.

It's not fair on people who have lost weight through use of exercise and willpower. Some people will still be eschewing the use of these drugs and doing it the old fashioned way, yet people will think they are cheating by shooting up drugs. To me it is no different to sports people taking performance enhancing drugs.

It’s not fair 🤣

Dayglojuice · 21/09/2026 07:51

I’d recommend Giles Yeo’s new podcast to anyone confused about the science and the effects long-term obesity has on the metabolic system..

A lot of the negatives (gall bladder, muscle loss, facial changes) are simply the possible effects of dramatic weight loss. We’re seeing more of them because more people are losing large amounts of weight. I also think that for some people weight gain and loss will always have a moral dimension- for them gaining weight is the result of immoral greed and so weight loss must be an act of penance. If it’s too easy, it’s a sort of cheating. It will be good when we manage to get beyond this sort of thinking, which doesn’t really take account of any of the socioeconomic or biological factors which contribute to obesity.

BillyBites · 21/09/2026 07:51

I’d love for someone to explain to me just who it is that they think “jabbers” are cheating. I mean, that implies a competition of some sort?

Ethelspagetti · 21/09/2026 07:52

mulberrymilk · 21/09/2026 00:12

I'm not sure, but I think the OP was trying to say that a lot of the people who refused Covid vaccines because it was new or experimental leapt onto WLI without hesitation, which is ironic. Or something like that?

Yes agreed, this is what I think the OP meant! I have two neighbours on it. They were very over weight but very slim now. I’m shocked at how quickly they’ve both lost weight. I don’t want it because I like to eat with my family and be a good role model to my children.

MoneyJo · 21/09/2026 07:52

Dayglojuice · 21/09/2026 07:51

I’d recommend Giles Yeo’s new podcast to anyone confused about the science and the effects long-term obesity has on the metabolic system..

A lot of the negatives (gall bladder, muscle loss, facial changes) are simply the possible effects of dramatic weight loss. We’re seeing more of them because more people are losing large amounts of weight. I also think that for some people weight gain and loss will always have a moral dimension- for them gaining weight is the result of immoral greed and so weight loss must be an act of penance. If it’s too easy, it’s a sort of cheating. It will be good when we manage to get beyond this sort of thinking, which doesn’t really take account of any of the socioeconomic or biological factors which contribute to obesity.

I've just recommended that too! Such a good person to listen to. Very sensible.

peppy23 · 21/09/2026 07:52

It just comes down to people being dickheads to fat people. Society does not like fat people. If you didn’t “suffer” to lose weight you’re a fat cheater. If you did you’re deemed worthy now you’re slim.

it reeks of mardy kids crying it’s not fair they got them why didn’t I?! It says a lot about someone’s character if that’s the mindset they have tbh.

it will no doubt be revolutionary for the NHS, they don’t fund shit that doesn’t work.

I love me some MJ and plan to remain on it indefinitely. Even with changes made. 😌

BugJuice · 21/09/2026 07:52

darkdaysareover · 21/09/2026 07:50

It’s not fair 🤣

You can just imagine that poster stamping her feet and saying ‘waa waa waa’, can’t you? 😂