1 in 20 UK adults taking GLP1 meds

[perimenopoppet]

https://archive.ph/07OwE

Interesting to have confirmed what we all suspected anecdotally. That’s a jump from 1.5million UK users to 2.5million since April.

Comments sections on telegraph, mail and Reddit are the usual wli bingo.

But it’s not only that the numbers are astonishing - it’s the rate of increase.

I feel so lucky to afford it and be part of this health revolution.

Me too! Very glad! Was at an event last night and those stats add up - well, about 30 of us there and at least 3 of us on GLP-1s that I know of, maybe more I don’t know of. One of those 3, 1 may have stopped, but definitely has been on them a while as he told me about it.

Also saw the GP yesterday and she’s lost 5 stone on MJ.

There’s definitely a gene type that has always struggled to lose weight and I’m so glad we’re finally getting help. We’re not all thickos - the advice just doesn’t work for lots of bodies.

I am fascinated by it!

What proportion of those are NHS and private?

I almost feel like I should be going on them….!

Wow!

It just says more than 9 in 10 pay privately. Given the UK roll out was for 200,000 ish it will be fewer than 10% getting it from NHS even including those prescribed for diabetes.

They have absolutely changed my life. I’d become obese without realising it, ate sensibly and work out several times a week but my body kept getting bigger. Food was always a very emotional issue for me. The injections have revolutionised my eating habits. I’m not at all surprised that there’s such a huge take up when we’re all told, all the time, that being overweight is (a) ugly and (b) dangerous

I think around 25% of uk adults are classed as obese, so almost half of them are on WLI.

I started late last year and am nearly down to a healthy BMI which has been absolutely life changing for me. My joints no longer ache, my inflammation has vanished, I'm going to the gym and generally feel like I'm 20 years younger.

Just pre-emptively popping this here in the hope that this won’t be derailed with the same old uneducated comments.

I'm an obese retired GP and fully support these medications for people to help with their weight which is such a risk factor for their health.
I cannot bring myself to take them because 1. I'm scared of the side effects,2. I don't want to spend the money on them, 3 I know I can lose weight without them(I just need to get my head in gear after a difficult 4/5 years)and 4.i worry what happens when people stop them.
I retired before they became a big thing but would absolutely support any patients right to take them but I would follow that up with good diet advice and hope to give them tips and advice on how to eventually come off them without regaining weight. It will be interesting to see the statistics for the future about keeping weight off.
Obesity is a risk factor for so many illnesses but I think we need to look at the root causes for this at the same time as treating people who are obese.

Not quite - 50ish million adults, so 25% is 12.5 million and 2.5 million on WLI so more like 20% of the obese population (I think) :-)). It's still v rapid growth though.

However, based on the svelte appearance of the parent population of my DC's school and my gym there are a LOT of people who are not obese who are accessing them (not judging as I'm v comfortable that this is a decision that grown adults are able to weigh up the risks and decide for themselves, just stating a fact).

That’s a really measured response @Musicaltheatremumand I would hope most GPs feel this way. In absolute agreement with you that they need to be used in parallel with lifestyle and diet changes and although on balance the risk of serious side effects is not zero, in my case I felt it was the lesser evil that continuing to slide further into obesity with its related dangers.

@AllJoyAndNoFunI agree that a significant minority of users won’t have started obese - you only have to read the tips about how to beat the registration process or have done the process yourself to know that it’s not hard to get hold of. Like you I think that unless there is a direct medical reason they should not use these medications, or they are underweight then it’s an adult decision to make. People put all sorts of things into their bodies. But they should be educated about how to do it safely. And the cowboys all over social media and salons flogging black market GLP1s should be stamped out.

I don’t plan to come off them, they are the only thing in over 30 years that’s kept me eating healthily

Not surprised at all. My dentist in an upmarket part of the south east said loads of her patients are taking WLIs even though who don’t need them.

There are clearly some areas that have more obese people. The cost of WLI means it’s unaffordable to those on low incomes or run a tight budget. Eli Lily must be laughing all the way to the bank.

The jump was from figures for July - the month before the price rise. So I don’t think there’s been any jump at all, it just shows people were buying multiple pens from multiple pharmacies to beat the price rise. The number of users is hugely exaggerated.
@Musicaltheatremum the stats for users regaining weight are very high - exactly the same as conventional dieters

Why would the dentist know?

The price rise was announced on the 14th August. In July we were blissfully ignorant.

That’s not to say there was noone buying more than one pen per month then, but the massive spike that can be attributed to stockpiling was very much the second half of August, ahead of prices for 1st September, not July.

I think the numbers are as good an estimate as they are able to make, with the current system that encourages no loyalty or consistency in supplier.

I think many of the people taking are not actually obese… many of those thinking bikini body hence massive jump April to July. August numbers will be skewed and no doubt people will be using their stock now.

I think the growth will slow down a bit with the price rises and as some of the early adopters titrate off.

If you stick to a low dose eg 2.5mg may not get side effects. Yes can lose weight without but it makes it easier. Re: stopping the way I see it is that it will be easier to maintain than to lose as I will have an extra 500-800 cals a day to play with. I envisage using a
couple of pens a year eg after holiday or if weight drifts up.

Good point!

Because she knows I am on it and she mentioned lots of other patients are in it. It’s a high income area with lots who ‘lunch’ and we have a lot in indie schools etc. She is very encouraging as she knows I have lost a lot on it

Yes I used three pharmacies to build up a five month stockpile. I am not the only one.

Many people are using them just to shed a few kg. It really has changed what being on a diet means; so easy when you can't feel the hunger. The only thing is knowing when it's time to stop; that would be before you look like a bag of bones.

You should still feel hungry on WLI. You need to be eating meals in response to hunger cues (not just because it’s a meal time). Smaller meals, yeah. But I feel more hungry on WLI as I’m eating less and therefore giving myself a chance to feel hungry. Far more sustainable than being on a too-high dose where you can’t stomach anything.

I’m staying on, either for ever or till something better comes along, 5mg dose. Been in maintenance for about 6 months now.

this is the healthiest I’ve been in a long time, blood pressure normal, cortisol normal, sleep apnea gone, and importantly as a woman in my fifties, my belly fat is gone, my stomach is flat. The drugs are showing so many health benefits, cardio vascular, kidney, liver, reduced cancers, dementia reduction etc, for me I’m taking that one little injection once a week for multiple reasons, inc keeping my weight stable, controlling my blood sugars, managing my insulin, etc,

im not surprised so many on them, and expect it to keep increasing, significantly over the next 5 years, globally, and obesity to ultimately become the minority, back to post war type obesity levels, where seeing someone overweight becomes unusual rather than the norm.

the backlash against them in my view is from people who want them and can’t get them. Either as they can’t afford or are a healthy weight, but resent others can be without what they perceive as the struggle.

the prices however are problematic and I think will cause a drop in the short term, or a slow down, but that will resolve itself.

@Musicaltheatremum pleased to hear that, as a medic, you have a positive attitude towards GLP1s.

Just to respond to your fears:

1. side effects in general are absolutely minimal and have generally been blown out of proportion by sm and the press. Of course, the possibility of serious side effects exists and can be exacerbated by irresponsible usage of the medication (people are only human after all)
2. This is the best money I have ever spent on anything for myself in my entire 58 years! I was very reluctant to start with and felt it was excruciatingly expensive but it has worked out less than my wine habit over the last 16 months with the added benefit of no longer being alcohol dependent!
3. Many of us can’t lose the considerable amount needed without the support of these peptides. I could lose 3-4 stone on my own and have done in the past but for the 8 stone I needed to lose, I needed some help!
4. I’m not stopping and have the full support of my GP prescriber. I am now on a very low dose to maintain.

TBH, every medical professional I have spoken to about them has been either passive or positive. I have not met any negativity at all. I do realise I am fortunate though!!