Weightloss injections and neurological condition

[ToadRage]

Has anyone got experience with this? I have Muscular Dystrophy, i saw my consultant on Friday and he mentioned my recent weight gain and said I would be eligible for weightloss injections due to my disabilty preventing much exercise. I have been waiting on a referral to the weight management clinic for months. Obviously my consultant should know best but two people (not medical professionals) have warned me off weightloss injections as apparently they can reduce muscle mass. Considering my muscle wasting condition i want to avoid anything that will affect the muscles I do have. Can anyone medical or not advise?

The drug doesn't cause muscle wastage as I understand it - rapid weight loss and lack of exercise does.

So if you're following a fitness regime or physio programme with to right nutrition (protein etc, all balanced for your needs) to support your body through the weight loss, you can avoid that.

That’s a really weird take from a consultant tbh, he should know that people can lose weight without exercise. The food intake is the key to weight loss, less so the moving. Based on that I would be inclined to seek further input from medics as muscle loss is a risk and I’m not sure your consultant does know best.

Some lean muscle is lost during any method of weight loss.
But with WLIs and weight loss surgery weight is lost at a faster rate, which causes a higher % of muscle loss.

I've kept my doses lower for longer to minimise this - been on MJ for 9 months and started 7.5mg 2 weeks ago.

While I hope you get the option, I wouldn't get your hopes up yet on being prescribed on NHS until your GP or weight loss clinic confirms it, there have been people before told by their consultants they should be eligible only to find out later they are not eligible as they don't have 4 out of 5 specific health conditions that GP or clinic are allowed to prescribe to.

Then when they go back to their consultant they won't prescribe it either as not their area.

https://www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/prevention/obesity/medicines-for-obesity/weight-management-injections/

I'm using MJ and, although I don't have Muscular Dystrophy, I did worry about muscle loss before starting. My clinician encouraged me to keep up with gentle movement and make sure I was getting enough protein, which has helped me feel stronger. With your condition, I'd definitely trust your consultant and weight management team over well-meaning friends, as they'll be able to guide you safely. 💕