The amount of cheating the system is scary

[Adultautismdiagnosis]

I find it so concerning how many people on here and beyond are perfectly happy to cheat the system to get MJ e.g. people taking photos of their scales while holding a weight behind their back so they look heavier. Another example is a friend of mine who knows someone finishing MJ so she's going to buy her remaining pens off her. She only needs to lose a stone and is on no way in need of weight loss injections.

It's also concerning the amount of people giving medical advice on here when they are in no way qualified or experienced e.g advising people on supplements to take, advising people to count clicks etc.

Then those that are in 1000+ calorie deficit a day.

It's all just so completely unregulated and rather worrying.

I know I'll get slated. I'm on MJ legitimately myself and need it. I just worry that the more this stuff happens the more likely it is that people will get seriously ill. I also worry they'll make the process so difficult that it'll put off people who genuinely need it.

I’m surprised a lot on here by the amount of people on it who only want to lose two stone. I’m not sure I’d risk the side effects for that level of loss.

@Adultautismdiagnosis I don't worry about other adults making poor decisions, people seem to do it all the time regardless of any advice that I may write on here. People are ignorant of lots of legal things, like selling on prescription medication being illegal for example. Ignorance is no defence, and if you know these people, I would point out that it is illegal so that they are no longer ignorant of that fact.

This whole section has a disclaimer at the top "Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet." that's at the top of every thread. I don't think people posting and reading think that what's written is medical advice. I see all the time that people are advised to speak to their provider, or to their GP if they are having issues.

I was in a 1000 calorie a day deficit when I started, that was down to my starting weight being extremely high and therefore having a high TDEE. If you mean people eating less than their BMR or less than 800 calories, then I think that people posting generally point out how that's not a sensible idea rather than encouraging it.

What is completely unregulated - people talking on Mumsnet, or the prescribing of these medications?

"I also worry they'll make the process so difficult that it'll put off people who genuinely need it." - if people genuinely need it they will reach the point where they will apply for the medication, and if they clearly meet the requirements they will get through the application process. What sort of difficult barriers are you thinking of that might stop people who are obese accessing WLI?

You keep saying there's a 'need' or none. It's not up to you to decide who needs or doesn't need it. Arguably, nobody does.

I think the problem for me is that is adds to the notion that they aren't safe and then the perceived risks are increased and rules around prescribing are tightened impacting those who are legitimately eligible.

So arguably nobody needs high blood pressure meds either? Or many other life saving medications. There is the option to just allow the diseases to progress naturally.............

The OP clearly meant eligible for prescribing.

It seems likely that regulation could increase, perhaps depending on the number and severity of short term cases of side effects requiring NHS treatment.

I feel sorry for the pharmacist who might get into trouble, but adults making free choices-no.

it doesn't affect you. People do far worse things to their bodies than lose weight on WLIs. I'm nowhere near the required BMI but took them to lose my last stone of baby weight and felt/feel great.

Adults are allowed to make decisions you don't agree with and indeed to make unwise decisions. Thats the point of having mental capacity. If you are seriously worried about a friend, speak to them. Otherwise butt out.

I think people who are only slightly overweight often misunderstand how it actually works - and the fact you still have to diet. They think it’s simply a miracle weight loss and can carry on as before. It’s an awfully expensive way to lose weight when a couple of months on the atkins type diet ( and that’s what format mounjaro is essentially encouraging) would do the trick for many who are only a bit overweight . I definitely think the WLI have their place but shouldn’t be the first port of call for plenty. I’ve been dieting for 4 months now, initially on MJ but came off it as didn’t like the feeling of heartburn and morning sickness 3 days a week . I’m losing at exactly the same rate but sticking to the principles . I had 4 and a half stone to lose - down about 1stone 9 so far - but have good willpower and am not a snacker. I think I too thought it would be a bit of a quicker hit , a bit like cheating, but it wasn't , so I now know the score- I can see for some it works well though , particularly those who genuinely can’t stop eating or snacking with willpower and are far too heavy.

I’m not arsed. They’re adults. They make these choices. I don’t see why I should be punished for those choices.

I do.

I was morbidly obese, now I’m healthy weight but I am still diabetic and have PCOS and the Mounjaro regulates my blood sugar levels to normal range meaning I no longer need Metformin and insulin which is what I was taking before.

I also take Statins for my cholesterol levels.

@InfoSecInTheCity you see you are an example where I think it’s fantastically useful and needed!! Pleased for you

You shouldn't worry, you can't medicate against stupid.

We now know about them causing pancreatitis and problems with contraception. There will be other long term side affects we don't know about.

Yet people are willing to take this stuff without the guidance of a doctor. And you can be sure when they develop other issues, they won't tell their GP they have been illegally sourcing prescription drugs.

Quite apart from those ordering God knows what off the internet who may not be receiving the real drug in the first place.

I agree there will be an epidemic of related health problems, when cooking from scratch, a sensible diet and moderate exercise would solve the issue without the risk.

We also know obesity kills people.

I cooked from scratch, I exercised, and I was still nearly 23 stone.

im now 15 stone 9, still losing and immeasurably healthier.

Diabetics do

It’s not for you to gatekeep just because people need to lose less weight than you.

OP said someone with only a stone to lose didn't even need it. So she accepts weight can be lost without it. It's a fact that far more weight than a stone can still be lost without it.

It sounds like youre no longer using it as a weight loss treatment, but you'd like to try to use the drug's very existence for and benefits for other purposes to somehow deny the fact that it's clearly not a prerequisite to being a healthy weight.

I feel the opposite - I think it's reassuring that the cases of bad side effects are so low, when half my friends and family are taking the drug!

I took it with less than two stone to lose. I didn't feel I needed to lose weight particularly, but my GP brought my weight up at EVERY appointment. (I think they get paid for recording 'weight intervention', but still.)

I know you’ve posted this because of myself and another posters comments on the other WLI thread that we’re starting MJ with a BMI of 29.5 instead of 30 shock horror.

how about mind your own business and let others get on with theirs?

Worry about the people scoring smack off the streets. There’s far more dangerous substances we put in our bodies than WLI. People forget that these meds have been around for a decade, I think maybe more, for those with diabetes and so vs other new meds we actually know a lot more about them and their safety. It’s just media hype. There’s risks with any medications - more troubling to me is contraceptives and how readily we accept those side effects for our teens and women.

I find it bizarre that nobody questions someone continuing to take them within the healthy range of BMI to reach their desired goal but if someone dares begin marginally outside of the threshold it’s an issue. My BMI was 27.5.

OP said someone with only a stone to lose didn't even need it. So she accepts weight can be lost without it.

She didn't "accept" that weight can be lost without it.

She means being one stone overweight does not hold sufficient health risks to justify the additional risks that come with medical intervention. Which is why it is prescribed for obesity and not cosmetic weight loss.

No, it's for the pharmacies to gatekeep and by lying to them to source the drug against the prescribing criteria, they are forcing pharmacies to make it more and more difficult for anyone to get it. I dont mind at the moment sending repeat evidence of my weight (bmi still 34 down from 47) but they are having to come up with increasing more stringent barriers to weed out the liars.

Personally I would like to see in person pharmacies increasing their capacity to prescribe privately. I would be happy to go along once a month for a weigh and a new pen. If the liars want to risk themselves with a dodgy pen from a back street service then I'd be happy with that.

It has been the topic of many many threads in the past.

Obesity is a disease and a body that has previously been obese continues to be at risk of the disease quickly returning.

Think of it similar to blood pressure meds. You don't stop them when your blood pressure is normalised by the meds or you blood pressure is going to rise again.

WLIs are much the same, if there is a risk of returning to obesity it is in the patients best interests to support their progress with a maintenance plan.

Of course with both medications other interventions might mean over time the medications can be ceased if the risk is reduced by other factors.