WLI Mum’s dilemma .

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Hi, I have a huge dilemma . I am using Mounjaro And have been successful in losing my excess weight. I have always been overweight now in my 50’s . I have a teenage daughter who is weeks away from being 16. All she wants is wli’s . She has a high enough bmi and she has been asking for a considerable amount of time i have been a definite “NO” and explained it’s not legal in the uk at her age. Studies are still gathering long term data. I’ve given her my reasoning and she understands. She doesn’t even eat badly and she exercises a lot. We have been to the doctors who just say it’s puppy fat, she has pcos , and we even had “she’s big boned” ( from a doctor 🤦🏻‍♀️) . She has severe ibs-d, as do I and my symptoms have all gone whilst on the jabs. This I’m itself would be a huge bonus for her as it’s debilitating at any age but trying to negotiate exams when she becomes ill so easily has been mentally exhausting for her. So this conversation keeps happening. This weekend however she told me many of her friends are now using wegovy and mounjaro which they are buying unofficially from friends of friends and at a good price 😳. She’s told me as she is desperately unhappy but luckily she is bright enough to know the jabs are probably not as they should be . She said she almost bought some Friday and she broke down and cried and said that now her large friend group are all slimming down and she feels even worse about herself. I’m all over the place . Do I try to buy them for her ? Is there anyone else who has experience with this ? She is an amazingly level headed young lady and I’m so lucky she’s come to me . Her Dad says just get them for her but I feel so torn as I would feel better if it was official. She works so has her own income and she has savings as she is very good with money so it’s not like I can stop her . I feel sick with worry. Please be kind I’m not stupid regarding what they are and what they do my research has been extensive. It’s a hope really that someone may be having the same experience and have some advice . TIA 🙂

Please don't buy prescription medication illegally and give it to your child. You have no way of knowing what is in anything you buy like this, no idea how it's been made and stored. If friends are buying something at a "good price" it is highly likely to be a fraudulent unofficial product with goodness knows what in it. Her friends could get seriously unwell.

I can understand that it's distressing for you and your daughter when everyone around her seems to be able to do what she wants, but finds difficult. But this is not the answer.

I would only personally contemplate WLI for young people, 18 plus, if they were very obese and with limited mobility or a weight related health issue as a result.

Absolutely this.

There is no dilemma here.

You cannot drug your daughter, it's insane.

I'm on MJ as well, so no judgement here on that front.

Unfortunately you need to manage your daughter's expectations and tell her no - and that's the end of it.

You also need to educate her about these fake jabs her friends are buying - apart from illegal, it's fucking dangerous as no one know what they are injecting themselves.

I think it's a difficult situation but I wouldn't dismiss it even though it's not ideal. I would, however, look at sourcing it legitimately.
Actually, wegovy is licensed for use by children over 12, it is only mounjaro that is over 18 only.
However, I don't think most online pharmacies would supply it and I certainly wouldn't buy it illegally.
Probably the only legit way for your daughter to get it would be to speak to your GP if she is big enough they might put her on the NHS pathway. Or to contact a private GP or Obesity Specialist clinic who might prescribe to someone under 18 because they can offer closer supervision.
For me, a lot would depend on the actual details of her situation.
Is it really just 'puppy fat' or is her bmi really high? Do you think there is a chance she will source them behind your back from some dodgy supplier because she is so desperate?
Can she afford it and does she understand that she will likely be on them for the rest of her life? Sourcing it initally is going to be really expensive. My own experience of private consultants (for other things) is a minimum £300 a visit for consultations. Plus a higher price for the medication.

I’d consider wegovy and getting it prescribed legally by a private pharmacy.

I didn't realise Wegovy was licenced for 12+ (for weight loss?). If she must do it, then private doctor + prescription. Don't buy them for her.

At 16 I was taking ecstacy, LSD, speed and smoking the odd bit of heroin. My mum wouldn't have liked it but at 16 I didn't give a shiny shite what my mum said! It's really great she's talking to you and letting you know where her head is at.

Why shouldn’t she buy them for her? And she doesn’t need a private doctor, she can just go via a pharmacy.

I think I would keep in mind that it an option and tread slowly and carefully. In view of her BMI and PCOS it may be a valid and successful treatment option, but with caution.

She is likely to need a private prescription so choose a reputable provider, based on safety and quality, not price.

If you can, see if your GP would review her first (they may not, some GPs won’t even discuss WLI if patients are with a private provider) but a GP might be able to discuss other options and safety considerations.

Finally, I would be absolutely clear either DD that WLI are only a supportive tool and that she absolutely needs to take responsibility for eating well and exercising.

Why shouldn't the mum buy them you mean? Because the drug is not for her.

Let the daughter do it officially. And regarding pharmacies, as she's under 18, I think she will struggle.

I think you'd need to find a private paediatrician specialising in weight management in order to find somewhere that would prescribe Wegovy to a teen. All the usual online pharmacies for getting WLI prescribed specify over 18s only.

If your daughter has PCOS it might be worth trying some supplements to control blood sugar and a lower carb diet before trying WLIs. Its a complex life long condition but there are some support groups.

You have two separate issues to deal with.

Firstly children taking illegally obtained (possibly fake) prescription medication. That needs reporting to the school. Think how you will feel if one of these young girls becomes seriously ill.

The second one, your own daughter, much harder and understandably very difficult. I personally would not be wanting my child starting on potentially long term medication so young and would be trying everything else first. Have you tried, for example, a PT who specialises in younger clients? It did wonders for my son in his late teens to help him reach his goals.

I work in social services and we have dealt with parents who have given WLIs to their teenagers. The police usually don’t prosecute initially but parents are warned that if they continue it will be charged criminally. Administering unprescribed medication to a child is assault. So it is taken seriously, is it worth a police and social services investigation over?

If Wegovy is available from 12+, you need to obtain it for her legitimately. In her own name, using her details and from a registered pharmacy. I still don’t think it’s a wise idea, but at least it would be legal.

Don’t you mean given illegal drugs to their teens, as wegovy is perfectly legal for anyone over 12. Such histrionics.

She’s 15. She’s got a job and her own money, but you absolutely need to stop her from buying prescription medication from underhand sources.
You / she needs professional advice. If the money is there for WLI’s, then the money is also there to see a private dietician who can advise on weight loss in general and WLI’s if they are suitable for your daughter. Do not do anything without advice from a clinician.

it must be awful for her if she has a BMI of 30+ at 15. I’m cross on your behalf at the response of the GP. But a medication approach to weight management needs to be done carefully and with the correct advice. Particularly as the evidence now seems to suggest that the WLI’s need to be long term / life long.

Read her post. That’s what she said.

I though that @AcidicTrifle was pretty clear she was referring to unprescribed medication, as in bought illegally from an unauthorised source. Very different to finding a HCP who will legally prescribe it to a child.

It’s perfectly legal when prescribed by a registered practitioner. It’s not perfectly legal for “anyone over 12” if they don’t obtain it legitimately. Social services and the police get involved in the latter situation, which is clearly what I was talking about.

Or are you just a weird pedant who wants some odd thumbs up for pointing out that “administering unprescribed medication” technically should have said “administering unprescribed medication that requires a prescription”? If so, gold star for you.

Then you should have said that. Everyone knows obtaining illegally is well illegal; but thanks for pointing out the obvious; the op has no need to get them illegally. Her daughter is both old enough and qualifies.

Maybe I am naive and out of touch but I just find it frightening that you have children that are slightly overweight and instead of looking at healthy eating and exercise as in the past automatically now it seems to be WLI’s!!
More and more data seems to be coming out about the long term implications of these drugs and the fact that many need to be on them for life. I feel there is still a lot about them that has not yet come to light.
I know I will get flamed for my views and I do accept that they are amazing for people who have tried everything else and are desperate for help but nowadays it just seems to be the easy way for many and the first thing to consider.

She’s not slightly over weight, the op said she qualifies which means she obese.

The DD might be old enough and qualifies but there isn't an obvious route to getting a private prescription for her, if that's what the OP wants to do. The online pharmacies that supply Wegovy all specify 18+, so you'd be looking at a private appointment with a suitable HCP and seeing if they would be willing to prescribe. Which may not be the case, especially if other lifestyle options haven't been explored first.

It will be 18 plus for purchasing I’m sure she can contact them to buy for her child.

Did you read OP’s original post? I was replying that, where she absolutely was not talking about obtaining the drugs legally. OP didn’t even know that was an option for Wegovy.

But now she does.