Would weight loss injections help me?

[Maximo2]

I am 12 stone 3, 54 years old, eat healthily, do strenuous yoga twice a week but probably drink too much wine. I would be much happier if I lost a stone and a half and am willing to pay for injections.

Am I a weightless injection candidate and where do I start?

You can only be prescribed them (whether paying or not) if you have a BMI over 30, or over 27 if you are from certain ethnicities or have a weight related health condition. If that applies then you can order online from any of the pharmacies that offer WLI, if it doesn't then there is no legitimate way to get them.

What's your BMI? Any comorbid health issues?

My BMI is 27.6, no other issues. That’s that then, I guess! Thank you.

I am 54 and I was 12 stone 9 when I started weight loss injections in January with MedExpress. I am now 9 stone 3 and a quarter and feel incredible. It’s been the easiest thing I’ve ever done to lose weight. I eat what I used to but now I recognise when I’m full and I have portion control whereas before my portions were simply too big. I also don’t drink as much as I used to as it weirdly stopped me fancying it as much although I do still have wine but prefer a less richer drink. It’s been an absolute life changer. My dh started it with me too and he has also done incredibly well. From 19 stone 13lbs to 13 stone 11lbs.

If you're 5ft 3 or shorter you would qualify at that weight.

Otherwise you'd need to be about 5ft 6 or shorter AND have an additional weight related health condition, or be from an ethnic background where the BMI starting point for medical obesity is lower.

I believe weight related health issues could include raised blood sugars, high blood pressure, cholesterol, sleep apnoea, osteo arthritis, fatty liver etc

I’m 5 foot 6. So unless I put on about half a stone, this isn’t happening, is it? I think I could maintain easily if I got there, it’s the getting there that’s hard!

You’re the same height as me and my qualifying weight for BMI 39 was low 13 stones so you’d need to be a stone heavier, if no other conditions

I think they could help but at that BMI you’d need a weight related health condition such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol or PCOS. Some people lie (eg say they have PCOS when they don’t) as the online pharmacies can’t prescribe unless you meet the criteria but they aren’t all very good with the follow up actually checking, eg I said I have PCOS (I do) but they didn’t ask for evidence.

I did see menopause as a condition (can’t remember which one) so have a look around.

When were your blood pressure and cholesterol last checked?

In June - both fine

Some clinics will prescribe microdoses to people who don’t satisfy these conditions. If you search munsnet you’ll see a few posts on it (microdosing). Not advocating juts for info

Just as a warning - I didn’t say I had pcos (I do, but forgot to list it). Medicine Marketplace must have checked with my gp as it was on my list of conditions by the second time I ordered.

I was diagnosed by a private doctor, and for whatever reason (likely the GP didn’t add in 2002 when I was diagnosed) so it’s not on my NHS medical records. I do have the letter but the GP etc has not raised why I said I had PCOS when they aren’t aware: I think they get so many notifications of WLI they don’t have time to look.

Thanks very much everyone, all food for thought and very useful.