Would I be unreasonable to try Mounjaro at a BMI of 27?

[Lorrrrrre]

With the likes of MedExpress now offering mounjaro to anyone with a BMI of 25+, WIBU to take it? I am 5ft 6, 12 stone, so not hugely overweight. I’d like to lose 2 stone so I can be comfortably in the healthy category for BMI. I also want to get a handle on it before it spirals out of control. I had my baby 3 years ago and just can’t shift the weight, finding time to exercise etc is really difficult and I find I have no willpower and snack a lot on bad food as I’m always rushing around. I’m hoping mounjaro will kick start better habits for me.
My family and partner are firmly against it, saying it’s lazy to use it and should only be for very obese people. My friends who have used it themselves are much more supportive. I’d have to hide it from everyone apart from a select few friends if I did take it as everyone would be so judgemental.

Has anyone used it with success for a similar weight and BMI? How long did it take you to lose?

How did you get it and where from?

Wow that’s amazing, have you had any bad side effects?

Yeah prices have only come out in the last week or so and I think lots of people are disappointed! Maybe they’ll reduce in time.

I can’t speak for Wegovy, but for MJ if you are going to use the pen up within the month (ie not microdose) it doesn’t need to be kept in the fridge. It needs to be used within one month of reaching room temp.

I started at a BMI of 27. No side effects really (ever so slightly nauseous when I started taking it but not enough to affect day to day life plus very thirsty but you are supposed to drink lots of water with it). Injection doesn't really hurt. I've done myself more harm accidentally pricking my finger with the needle.

I've lost 5kg in about 2 months which I'm really happy with. My partner was taking it (he had a higher starting BMI) so I had support at home. I've switched provider each time as you can save quite a bit of money this way and it's not too difficult to switch. I don't recommend MedExpress though - they completely wasted over an hour of my time and rejected me despite Voy then accepting me. I started with Voy (really good service, lots of support, great for first dose but switch after dose 1 as it's one of the most expensive providers). Be careful with prices too because some providers give you the medicine but don't provide you with the needles (as they want to charge extra for that), which is insane as obviously the medicine is completely unusable without a needle. Oh, and they don't even make it clear that you have to buy needles separately. Ridiculous.

Did you lie about your weight to get it or did you go somewhere dubious ?

I started with a BMI of 29 in December I’ve lost 40lb since then. Do it, it makes losing weight easy, well it has for me.

You don't need mounjaro when you've got some little to lose. You could do it quite easily without.

I’m talking specifically about a private GP. The online pharmacies won’t prescribe to someone who had a starting BMI of 23.

Prescribed through a private GP.

A private GP.

Why do something the hard way when there is an easier way? If it was so easy her BMI would be under 25 already.

I didn't lie about mine and got accepted on Voy. My BMI was just below 25. Or around about.

Because it's a drug designed for those suffering from obesity. A BMI of 27 isn't obese. It's ridiculous considering a weight loss jab when a few months of discipline could achieve the same results. These drugs should be kept for those who really need them.

That assumes BMI tells the whole story. Some ethnic groups develop metabolic disease at lower BMIs, and conditions like PCOS can cause significant insulin resistance and high body fat despite a ‘normal’ BMI. Without knowing the patient’s full medical picture, saying a doctor should be reported to the GMC based on BMI alone is a huge leap.

No it’s not. It was a drug that was designed for diabetes, so should we only ring fence it for diabetics? No, because that’s not how it works. They are looking at GLPs for all sorts of dopamine seeking behaviours that you see in the likes of ADHD and addictions. Obesity (or diabetes rather) is proving to be the tip of the iceberg.

Exactly!

I started at just over 25 BMI and have lost 12 pounds in 10 weeks. I’m thrilled. It’s been so easy.

No “bad” side effects, apart from the unpleasant nausea (akin to first trimester morning sickness) when I first started and the first few days when I go up a dose. I’ve also become repulsed by even by the sight of sugar and UPFs (an actual visceral reaction, like stomach churning) although I suppose that’s not the worst side effect in the world!

There isn’t a limited supply, what on earth do you mean they should be ‘kept for people who need them’?

I’m in a very similar position with respect to my child’s age and BMI. I have essentially maintained my post partum weight for 3 years so clearly I’m very good at maintaining, but I have so much on my plate that the losing bit is hard from a consistency perspective.

I have gotten Mounjaro from Voy & it turned up today. I eat very healthily & do a lot of exercise, but I really do like food so I’m helping it helps with portion size.

The needles as I understand them are essentially insulin type needles. I took medicine in a similar dosing device as part of fertility treatment & you almost don’t notice it. Definitely less daunting than a finger prick - I also had gestational diabetes.

Planning on starting later this week, also looking at Voy

@Lorrrrrre My family and partner are firmly against it, saying it’s lazy to use it and should only be for very obese people

The “lazy” argument is so stupid. Are they equally opposed to using Nicotine patches/gum to help stop smoking or the drugs used to help people manage alcohol cravings as part of cutting out or reducing alcohol? There is stacks of research on the complexities of appetite management and suppression and dopamine variance even if you ignore the complexities of weight control socially. “Oh I just eat properly” is such a tone deaf argument to someone trying and struggling with weight.

There is no reason not to try them (health all ok otherwise I assume) but I’d hope private providers also provide the guidance on using the injections to help adjust your overall diet to a healthier model in the future to get back to where you would wish. I’ve had a number of colleagues use them whilst being a bit overweight (26-28ish) very successfully with ongoing support for their lifestyles. It has helped them to restructure food and exercise for maintenance and generally improve morale and sense of well being. The ongoing diet/plan support was key to the longer term success.

Thank you that’s helpful to hear you have colleagues in a similar position

Try getting to a BMI of 25-27 and then losing weight with 'discipline' and tell us how easy it is.

Losing weight when you're close to a healthy weight is much harder than losing weight when you've got an excess, even if you're someone lucky enough to have an 'average' appetite.

I started wegovy at BMI 26. I have strength trained for ten years, practice a sport, use a standing desk with a treadmill to get my steps in and constantly thought about eating healthy. But my appetite would always beat my planned calorie deficit, which is around 1300 consistently to lose weight. 1300 is a small amount of food and doing it seven days a week, week after week is tough.