Regulators looking to cut off maintenance below 25 BMI

[Bigfatsunandclouds]

Oushk have said that they are currently trying to fight with regulators to stop people being cut off from MJ at 25 BMI.

Apparently regulators don't like prescribing below that and that basically means unless you continue to remain at 25 or above you won't be able to be prescribed even for maintenance.

This is worrying as many see this as a lifetime medication after years of obesity but at least to maintain at a lower BMI for a little while to ensure the weight stays off. This seems like utter madness - this is surely going to lead to yo yo use of the meds which seems counterintuitive.

BMI in a lot of cases is a stupid archaic measurement anyway.

@CowboyFromHell I starved myself thin for 30 years, I know how to do it, but post-menopause it just wasn't possible anymore. And I'm somone with immense willpower, run 4 times a week, swim regularly, work a stressul job, etc. I'm not talking about being occasionally hungry I'm talking about being constantly hungry stomach growling in meetings, unable to concentrate on anything but food. So forgive me if I don't give your uninformed holier-than-though opinion any credence. I know how it feels to live in my body. You don't

I find it most peculiar how people who aren't interested in WLI and/or healthy weight come onto these boards to berate those who are attempting to lose weight in a way that works for them. People are concerned that a medication that has improved their health is going to be taken away just as they are getting into a healthy weight range, that's okay.

It's this kind of attitude that add to stigma and shame around obesity. There are many reasons for obesity that have nothing to do with a bit of hunger and grumbling tummy. So take you holier than thou attitude away and stop shaming people.

I hate to be a cynic but are they? Really? Seriously? Actually considering it or just an idea that’s been mooted?

Or is it Oushk trying to up their profile in an ‘David and Goliath’ situation after a failed GPhC inspection?

Maybe. I thought someone here might have further info, but it doesn't seem so.

What are the other pharmacies saying about this, if anything?

There is some panic on the reddit maintenance sub, and stockpiling has been recommended.
That's going to cause chaos!

I'm with Voy and they recently told me they have started supporting maintenance, I must email them and see what they say about it.

"I have used all of this- it’s just that there are no guidelines for prescribing in healthy weight. I have found a little way though (just need it all finalising)"

🙈 They might have already sorted out those big nasty regulators in the space of a few hours.............. really 🤔

Not sure wtf the whole thing has all been about! Looking a bit silly imo, but obviously the faithful will soak it all up and be ever so grateful.

It's been a while since we had some Oushk entertainment 🤣

I think it’s as a result of their inspection rather than an across the board limitation on maintenance. It could be that they couldn’t prove that they had done proper checks on those below bmi25. Hira is doing live tonight so we will know more then

Ignore @CowboyFromHell boorish comment. Her comment suggests she has her own issues! Hardly sensible eating habits if she spends her life feeling hungry!

And here is a perfect example of someone who doesn't understand obesity as a condition. Losing weight doesn't undo the damage that obesity causes.

I’m a discount affiliate for Lotus weight loss and they prescribe to anyone with a BMI over 19 as long as you’ve got proof that you’ve used WLMs in past 6 months

I've never used Oushk and haven't engaged with them at all. Is this seriously how they run their business? How unprofessional.

She was saying she was trying to fight the regulators with the science and the difficultly was the prescribing guidelines say it is for overweight and obese patients. That is very different to we haven't got enough proof of proper checks for those under BMI 25, it was saying it cannot be prescribed under BMI 25.

I may be wrong, but doubt we will know more after the Q&A what it was all about, with the latest post saying she "found a little way through" the faithful will just be pleased she "fixed" it for them and instead of probing further will tell her how lovely her hair/lipstick/eyeshadow is 🤔

Pancreatic cancer?

I am thinking of switching to Lotus because of their 2-months treatment deal. Are they good?

Yes of course they should stop prescribing for BMI below 25. This is a healthy weight and miles below obesity - over half the population have a BMI of 25 plus. We cant have everyone on MJ.

@FumingTRex pharmacies will prescribe until you are in the healthy weight range, ie below 25. The whole point of the medication is to get you into that range, not to cut you off the second you hit 25. The issue here is where do you then stop. Most places say a BMI of 23, some a bit lower, others on a case by case basis. It will be lower for those whose ethnicity means that BMI is categorised differently eg obese being from BMI 27 not 30.

The important thing is that pharmacies can show they are responsible about checking people’s current weight, and being able to show due process and evidence of that when making prescribing decisions. That’s where Oushk seem to have fallen short.

@FumingTRex
Why not if most people are paying for their own, and there's evidence of it being hugely effective in terms of obesity and a range of other conditions related to metabolism, inflammation, addiction, brain, heart, kidney and liver function? Do you feel the same about statins?

If obese people were the same as you are, metabolically speaking, they would also be able to maintain BMI of 21 without medication. Or to put it another way, if your body worked the same way as the average obese person, you'd be obese too.

There is a difference in the way obese bodies function and those which have never been obese. You don't need to have an opinion on this really do you? As a person who isn't obese and isn't likely to need these drugs?

Hmm, I don't know. Wes Streeting said today that half of Westminster is on them. If that is the case then I can't see the government coming down too hard on this. Are they the people that make the decisions actually? Forgive my ignorance!

If it does happen though, then I'd honestly question whether to buy them again if needed. What would be the point? I've lost weight before and piled it all back on. I wouldn't pay for the privilege.

Hmmmm, there’s a difference between feeling hungry and being obsessed with food.

I’m just reading the Öushk enforcement notice. The main theme seems to be recording prescribing decisions, verifying BMI independently, monitoring outcomes and auditing prescribing decisions.

I can’t see anything specifically about maintenance but am assuming the bit about The Pharmacy must demonstrate that all prescribers document their all of their prescribing decisions is relevant.

Rememer MJ is licensed for weight maintenance for adults with an initial BMI of 30 or 27 with at least one weight related co-morbidity.

If Oushk can evidence that their prescribing is within the guidelines they should be OK, so I’m not convinced this is quite the David and Goliath battle it is being presented as.

This is all a bit scary. I'm nowhere near BMI 25 yet (currently BMI 35, down from 40 yay!!) but I'm hoping to stay on MJ for life as the non weight loss benefits have been life-changing and I don't want to go back to how I was before MJ!

MJ may actually be more effective than statins for preventing heart attacks!