Why are so many people anti WLI

[Mumble12]

I just don’t understand it!

Mounjaro has literally changed my life overnight. It’s dealt with things that I didn’t even know were fixable. Why are so many people (presumably those that haven’t tried them and really have no intention to) so dead against it.

Do people misunderstand how it works? So many people perceive it as cheating…but I can’t fathom the logic - even if it was cheating…so what?! Why do they want people to be miserable and struggle with obesity?

Also as I saw it, I've seen several of my friends who are a bit larger and middle age have gall bladder issues and joint pain anyway, it's pretty common and for them it was nothing to do with rapid weight loss as it's a risk from being a bit fat.

I'm taking GLP-1 meds to actually reduce that risk. Plus what I thought might be the start of arthritis in my knees and ankles has gone now I'm lighter.

Yes, it is literally for people who don't have the willpower you describe. It's essentially will power in a bottle.

I guess the question is why does that bother you?

Studies show clearly that will power is not the answer to losing weight. Unfortunately will power will take you so far, then it begins to wane. This is a normal human reaction.

Instead of will power, we have to change our behaviour. This is where it gets very difficult. Changing behaviour isn’t easy at all, so using something like a WLI whilst you get help to change your behaviour might be the answer.

What other people do with their body is none of my business. Getting bitter and jealous over people "cheating" is childish in my opinion.
I've no interest in using WLI but no judgement to anyone who does!

A positive mindset or an extra rep at the gym are fairly unlikely to cure cancer.

I think this is what I find so frustrating, when people who have no experience with a particular issue, casting judgement and saying what would or wouldn't work.

Worth pointing out that drug companies are already gaining significantly from the long term failure of diet and exercise to prevent obesity in the population. There isn't an option here that doesn't enrich them.

Once you are obese - any type of dieting/eat less move more/programme etc only has a 5% chance of long term success. That's ridiculous odds yet people who can't do it are labelled failures and morally lacking will power etc when it turns out it's likely insulin regularion etc.

I take an inhaler so I can breathe like everyone else. That is not cheating breathing.

I wear glasses so I can see like everyone else. That is not cheating.

I take glp1s so I can regulate food like most people. I don't see that as cheating personally.

I agree we need to look at society (especially UPFs) but that applies to many things - ie would so many people be on antidepressants if we had better work/life balance, less poverty etc... Doesn't mean we shouldn't prescribe a cure.

Glp-1s have been truly lifechanging for me (and ADHD meds - can't remember the posters name that pooh poohed them both). Truly lifechanging. I wish I could rewind the last 20 years as my life would have been different in so many ways. But I'm glad it will be going forwards.

As someone morbidly obese I was already at a lot of risk so weighing up risks it's makes sense to take glp-1s - probably long term. And yes ideally the body wouldn't have got there but it has (and I could list a lot of things that would have helped when I asked for support over the last 20 years).

Taking these and listening to people like Chris V T and having counselling and I've realised how much blame and shame I've lived with over the years and the cycle of failure I've felt when truly it isn't my fault. I'd I broke my leg I wouldnt feel a failure that I couldn't walk, or if my glasses broke I wouldn't feel a moral failure for not being able to see - I'd get them fixed!

I am a compeltely different person, physically, but also through being able to walk again this has impacted my family and their wellbeing, through stopping the blame cycle I've been mentally so much happier. Through being on glp-1s I've been able to put the diet in I've been trying for at least 13 years and I can now follow advice that others could follow but my body wouldn't let me. (I can choose to stop when full, I feel a fullness signal that I didn't before, I can choose what to eat and I can plan meals now. Of course I could overeat but I now have the option not to.)

I really do hope that the narrative changes around this over time.

One thing I do worry about having been on a fb group for my provider is those seeing it as a quick fix. Often those with only a little weight to lose think theyll take it and be sorted. I think this can play into disordered eating alongside those that want full suppression and to just not eat. I do think there's not enough support around this (those who are very obese have often read everything and know how they'd like to eat long term/hat fast weight loss isn't a good idea) and is the main reason I think this should be within the NHS.

I will wait 5 or 10 years then will see where we are then, I do feel it is the new tape or fidget spinner as in it will fade out and the next thing people cant stop talking about will happen, no I dont think it is the answer to anything

Even despite people who are actually using them telling them it is literally the answer to their problems?

It's the same with anti depressants. 'they just give you a script instead of fixing the real problem.' My real problem was fixed with anti depressants - I've never 'worked on myself' or addresses any root causes. The root causes were my stupid brain which is currently very well managed with the tablets the clever scientists have discovered for us.

I don't want to be overweight for the next 10 years though, while struggling every day with not becoming even more overweight.

Yep I think the glp-1s are addressing the literal root of my obesity - it's regulating insulin etc. it's literally making my body behave like it should.

Yes I suspect the prevalence of UPFs perhaps caused the disfunction in the first place mixed with an ADHD brain and childhood trauma.... And I completely back Chris V Tullekens attempts to change the food regulations but that's a huge task and won't be overnight. I think that's where our focus should lie long term. That and better mental health support... Cahms for teenagers is currently shocking. It's far too easy to blame obese individuals than change systems and it suits big business for us to this...

Not taking pain killers is hardly the same as not taking cancer drugs or antibiotics so you’ve really not answered @Mumjaro’s question.

I think OP is right that there is a negative public perception around WLI.

My sister recently posted a picture on a wider family Whatsapp chat, it was meant to be one of those “what is everyone up to today” conversation-starters, but it was clear that she wanted to share her weight loss as the picture was of her ready to go to a party, showing her whole figure, nicely dressed etc. Her weight loss is significant at least two dress sizes down and she does look much better. However not a single person on the chat commented to say she looked great or anything like that. Complete silence. It made me wonder whether that is because the family knows she has been on WLI.
A few years ago she managed to lose weight by exercising and putting a lot of work and at that time people couldn’t stop the compliments coming. She had so many people congratulating her. This time nothing.
So it made me think it is either caution because people think she is going to put the weight back on again (as she had before) or because they don’t see WLI as something worth praising.

Did you comment she looked fab? What a shame for your sister. I've purposely avoided the topic with my family as they're judgemental as hell!

I wouldn't say I'm against it. But I can think of few things worse than having no appetite

I would say you’re not really understanding how the drug works.

Not having an appetite is certainly not something most of the people on Mounjaro experience.

I think the reason so many people are anti WLI is abundantly clear on this thread. People don’t know enough about them, have formed opinions with little to no research, and in a lot of cases don’t have any actual personal experience of obesity.

@AccidentalPrawnYouFool perfect summary! And yes I was just musing to myself that most people find it hard to imagine how someone else is living. So for example think the other person is experiencing lift just like them but making different choices. That's abundantly clear from the posts we read here.

Yes , I have, I always tell her she looks great when I see her too.

What a shame you have to avoid the topic, what do you tell your family when they ask about your weight loss?

On the flip side, what I see from this thread is that there's no scope for nuanced debate with those on WLIs. Anyone who dares to question the use of WLI is branded bitter and jealous and told we don't know what we're talking about, like we're devoid of critical thinking and independent research. Or that we don't have enough experience of weight management to be able to comment. The defensiveness is off the scale, which makes me wonder if deep down lots of users are very concerned about the long-term effects of this largely untested (for weight loss only) medication that they're pumping into their bodies, but daren't admit it because of the cult-like mentality WLIs appears to have triggered.

Ah no. I've spent a LOT of time reading papers and researching before I did this. It's just something I feel quite passionately about and thankfully have the intellect to look into. Have you looked into the long term effects of morbid obesity?

I don't think that's a helpful analogy. Of course there is always a legitimate market for some drugs and not everything is preventable or curable.We are usually encouraged to avoid harmful substances - e.g. cigarettes and alcohol (to some extent) - but there is always pressure from big businesses who want to make a profit. The government should do more to make healthy food more available to all and unhealthy food less so.

I'm a bulimic in recovery and my BMI is 31. So yes, I am very aware. What's your point?

That's truly great you're in recovery ❤️.

Just that it's not tricky to see the known "side effects" of morbid obesity - life limiting vs a drug that's been through clinical trials and already in widespread use, showing multiple benefits already inclusing reduced risk for heart events, improving blood pressure, reducing fatty liver etc.

I agree it is far less clear cut for those only a little overweight but the balance is clearly in favour of the drugs when morbidly obese if just weighing up known long term effects of morbid obesity vs currently known positive effects of drugs and potential unknown long term effects.

I took WLI for 6 months and I've tried to fathom the answer to this question for the best part of a year.

I think there are loads of different reasons but I no longer care. As far as I'm concerned, if people want to see it as cheating or dangerous or vain or whatever other opinion they may have - let them. That is their right to have their opinion and actually it means nothing to me.

I am lighter, fitter and healthier than I have been for years and have successfully maintained for over 3 months now. So they can think what they like, while I live my slimmer, healthier, happier life!