So tempted but only got a few kg to lose - advice

[WindsChange]

Hi - looking for advice from those who have been through similar.
I’ve got a strong family history of diabetes type 2, stubborn belly fat (despite exercising 6 days a week and being very fit). I’m mixed ethnicity - all of which are risk factors.

However I’m only actually a few kg overweight (BMI 25.9).
I know there are ways around getting weight loss drugs (please don’t judge, I’m feeling desperate and wanting to protect my health).
I cannot do it alone - I have tried for years dieting and I eat pretty healthy generally although I’ve got severe ADHD and impulse eat at night.
Has anyone else tried with only a smaller than recommended amount to lose?
How did it go?

You say you want to protect your health but are looking for ways to get a drug that isn’t medically suitable for you and could harm your health. Have a think about it.

No one will prescribe it to you at that bmi?

It is much harder now, they require videos for verification, mine I had to show id, step on scales and stand against a door to verify everything. It

Totally agree.

This really isn’t for you. Your BMI is too low.

You will never get them prescribed for you at your weight legally. They liase with your GP to ensure the info you’re providing them is correct. If GP informs them you’re slim, and says it’s not you in the photos (if you use fake or old pics) even if they don’t have an exact weight you will be flagged up/blacklisted by the pharmaceutical companies that distribute the pens to the separate smaller companies eg Medexpress.

Start doing weights, 30 day shed etc to get rid of last few kg in a healthy way

I will say it sounds like you may have an ED or unhealthy habits around you’re eating (binging at night) so it may be worth seeing your GP. You are barely overweight and they will be able to help you w/o resorting to the jabs.

If you haven't already done so, you might be better off trying medication for the ADHD that seems to be at the root of the impulsive eating.

Do not do it.
The risks and side effects become too much of an issue if you aren't actually obese.
I was obese and took it and had a very strong reaction.. months later I'm still struggling with issues caused by it.
Yes I lost weight but I've also now got health issues... it's not worth taking that gamble with so little weight to lose. It really isn't.

I really wouldn't. The drug often doesn't do much at lower strengths so, for just a few kilos, it may not be much help anyway.
As a prescriber I always told patients that they must be aware of the risk to benefit ratio of any drug they planned to take and, in your case, because your BMI is not high the benefits would not be as much as for heavier people while the risks remain the same. It honestly is not worth lying to get it as it has not been tested on people of lower weight so there's a lot we don't know.
It's also worth knowing that rpoviders are tightening up procedures following abuse of the system so you normally have to have a video consultation as well as online application now.

Before I started taking Mounjaro (at BMI 39 with strong family risk of T2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease) I spoke with a nutritionist who agreed my diet was very healthy but not right for an older woman needing to lose weight, might this be the case for you, that your diet might not be the right one for you? She advised I increased protein, lower carbs, reduce processed food, etc so it may be worth checking if altering your diet in some way may be good. Higher protein and reduced carb increases the body's own GLP1 which may help.
Good luck

Seconding these, my partner is ADHD and they are life changing for him.

First response nails it

I have ADHD and I’m on a low dose. It has done exactly what I’d hoped. I stopped binging and obsessing over food. I was on omeprazole for acid reflux and have stopped that, all the bloating has gone, sugar cravings, alcohol cravings gone. I wanted to lose a stone and a half. I have lost a stone in about 5 months without having to do anything, no side effects and stayed on the 2.5 lowest dose. Half a stone to go and my bmi will be 22. I look snd feel sooo much better.

No it's pointless. They're designed to be a long term drug. If you use short term, anything you lose will just go back when you stop.

And you're not obese so not eligible.

However - with so little to lose there are other options. Or counselling?

And adhd meds have been lifechanging for me..., are you on them?

I used a company called treated. My bmi is just over 25 and I need to lose about a stone and a half. I had to send a picture and they prescribed mysimba tablets. They seem to be working, I don't half the impulse to snack all of the time.

I don't think they would prescribe Injections for a bmi of 25 but I'm not sure, I asked for tablets because I just hate Injections!

In the UK they would be risking their license to prescribe at bmi25 unless you are a continuing patient with evidence you started at the appropriate bmi.

Also think of side effects and potential risks..., all completely worth it for someone morbidly obese but not for someone basically healthy.

There is no way for you access WLI legitimately. If you aren't already medicated you should seriously consider medication for your severe ADHD.

With mixed ethnicity, OP was considered overweight at BMI 23, and will be eligible for MJ as Obese at BMI 27, which is significantly lower to the criteria for white ethnicity.

I'm not suggesting she should try to cheat to get it, but she isn't considered "barely overweight" according to her BMI of 25.9. No offence OP!

I understand why you want the medication, but you should only take it when prescribed by a legitimate provider.

If you find a way to get it that isn't through legitimate prescribers, you might end up with something else. There are tiktok sellers and dodgy beauty salons selling all sorts - not only is it not weight loss medication, it can be actively dangerous. Proper pharmacies are being forced to tighten up and do video consultations and weight verification calls to stop people who don't meet the criteria for the drugs from accessing them. This is because the risk/benefit ratio isn't in favour of someone your weight taking them, OP. You might feel it's for your health and to prevent diabetes, but it's not a safe and sensible way for you to do that. If it was, you would be able to get it through legitimate means.

www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czd3n55enqyo.amp

This.

Has to be BMI over 30, or over 27 if you have a weight related condition. Doesn’t matter if you’re technically overweight on the BMI scale if it’s lower than 30.

When I started Mounjaro a few months ago I had a BMI of 29 but was prescribed it because I have PCOS.

The three suppliers I have used actually corroborated the PCOS with my doctor so even if I'd tried to falsify the condition I wouldn't have been prescribed it. They are clearly really tightening up the rules and regulations now.

@simsbustinoutmimi you can legitimately be prescribed Mounjaro with a BMI of 27 or higher if you are one of a list of specific ethnicities where obese is classified as starting from BMI 27. You don’t need a weight related health condition if that’s the case.

Not that this is relevant to the OP as her BMI is 25.9, so doesn’t qualify on any grounds.