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Weight loss chat

A space to talk openly about weight loss journeys and challenges. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

Original poster

Why wouldn't you take weight loss drugs?

150 replies

0BonneMaman0 · 07/09/2024 14:29

Seems like the whole world is taking them.

I'm occasionally tempted but worried about the long term effects... what would put you off?

OP posts:
Kit89 · 08/09/2024 00:13

I find it quite scary how a drug is so powerful that it could stop something I’ve battled with unsuccessfully since childhood: my seemingly insatiable appetite.

BobbyBiscuits · 08/09/2024 00:16

I think if I was overweight I'd do it. But I'm not very stable minded anyway so I don't think it would be a good idea. It sounds almost too good to be true. You can't take it forever?
It seems just like phentemine or whatever that dodgy speed was they used to give out. You get appetite suppression but it doesn't teach you to eat healthy. And then the weight goes back on when you stop.
And yeah, long term affects are not known and could be horrible.

cremantandacardigan · 08/09/2024 00:46

My dh has lost weight which is great, but I'm shocked at the amount of muscle loss. He had zero side effects apart from weight and muscle loss. I don't think he's going to be able to get the muscle back, the effort would be more than he would have needed to shift the weight. For him the weight loss outweighs this side effect (he never looked 'obese' but his stats were). For me I'll have to shift my menopausal stone the hard way as I don't want to loose my muscle at my age. I don't have ill health from weight and I'm not even technically overweight so I wouldn't risk unknown side effects (or even qualify to take it).

Ihateslugs · 08/09/2024 01:29

tobee · 07/09/2024 17:03

According to today's i newspaper they might be on their way by 2026 in tablet form:

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Thanks for this, I’ll keep an eye out for any more information.

Nat6999 · 08/09/2024 02:17

Too many unknowns about the damage they can do. I'm just following the 16:8 diet & have 2 fast days a week of under 600 calories, I've lost nearly 5 stone up to now, I lost on average 2.5lbs a week.

Hoplolly · 08/09/2024 07:52

I think it's funny everyone is concerned about the long-term side effects of a drug that has been around for a long time but we all merrily lined up for our covid vaccinations, again not knowing the long term-side effects.

My dh has lost weight which is great, but I'm shocked at the amount of muscle loss. He had zero side effects apart from weight and muscle loss.

Why isn't he eating high-protein and exercising 3-4 times a week to combat this? There's absolutely zero reason to lose any muscle.

spuddy4 · 08/09/2024 08:15

@Chewbecca that's fair enough and for you it's not the same thing. The health risks from being overweight gives you a risk of more complications from covid so for me losing weight will benefit me and should reduce my risk of heart disease and other complications.

Herewegoagainandagainandagain · 08/09/2024 10:51

cremantandacardigan · 08/09/2024 00:46

My dh has lost weight which is great, but I'm shocked at the amount of muscle loss. He had zero side effects apart from weight and muscle loss. I don't think he's going to be able to get the muscle back, the effort would be more than he would have needed to shift the weight. For him the weight loss outweighs this side effect (he never looked 'obese' but his stats were). For me I'll have to shift my menopausal stone the hard way as I don't want to loose my muscle at my age. I don't have ill health from weight and I'm not even technically overweight so I wouldn't risk unknown side effects (or even qualify to take it).

It is well known fast/extreme weight loss has these issues whether on weight loss medication or not.

If used responsibly weight loss drugs can be titrated to give steady healthy weight loss over a period of time and as with any weight loss program (drug assisted or not), where a lot of weight needs to be lost, it is important to maintain proper nutrition including adequate protein.

Also has he had his muscle loss accurately measured? It may be he hasn't lost as much as you think and it is loose skin (again a problem whether weight loss was supported by drugs or not).

Restaurantcritic · 08/09/2024 10:54

Because it’s just a temporary fix?

TabithaHazel · 08/09/2024 10:55

I was put off by a thread on mumsnet with the majority of people posting on it saying that when they stopped the drugs, despite best intentions, the weight piled back on - I don’t really want to have to take a drug for life so after briefly thinking about asking my GP for them after a pre-diabetes diagnosis, I joined a gym and began 16:8 fasting and have lost weight and kept it off (and reversed my pre diabetes).

Hoplolly · 08/09/2024 13:01

That would happen with any weight loss method if you go back to your same eating habits.

spuddy4 · 08/09/2024 13:05

TabithaHazel · 08/09/2024 10:55

I was put off by a thread on mumsnet with the majority of people posting on it saying that when they stopped the drugs, despite best intentions, the weight piled back on - I don’t really want to have to take a drug for life so after briefly thinking about asking my GP for them after a pre-diabetes diagnosis, I joined a gym and began 16:8 fasting and have lost weight and kept it off (and reversed my pre diabetes).

Surely you'll put the weight back on after losing it with any diet if you don't make permanent lifestyle changes? I don't think it's exclusive to weight loss injections, I've known people who have spent years back and forth slimming world after losing them putting back on again.

Florafleur · 08/09/2024 13:21

spuddy4 · 08/09/2024 13:05

Surely you'll put the weight back on after losing it with any diet if you don't make permanent lifestyle changes? I don't think it's exclusive to weight loss injections, I've known people who have spent years back and forth slimming world after losing them putting back on again.

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That's what the weight loss industry is about though!

There wouldn't be an industry and any profit, if the weight loss industry was successful…

Sorry, cynical me!

dragonpen · 08/09/2024 13:25

Hoplolly · 08/09/2024 07:52

I think it's funny everyone is concerned about the long-term side effects of a drug that has been around for a long time but we all merrily lined up for our covid vaccinations, again not knowing the long term-side effects.

My dh has lost weight which is great, but I'm shocked at the amount of muscle loss. He had zero side effects apart from weight and muscle loss.

Why isn't he eating high-protein and exercising 3-4 times a week to combat this? There's absolutely zero reason to lose any muscle.

Well a lot of people are rightly concerned about the long term side effects of covid itself, even if you get it mildly. Those side effects have to be somewhere in the equation too.

Re WLD I'm mainly put off by side effects, but that doesn't stop me also being afraid of the side effects of being overweight. It just pushes me more towards alternative methods. Doing nothing also has unacceptable risks.

I'm fascinated by the possible effects on things other than weight though - things like addictions. It seems like there's loads of potential here but it'll probably be generations after us who get the main benefit, with later versions of the drugs.

romdowa · 08/09/2024 13:26

My father took one of those injections for his diabetes and it make him badly sick. He could barely eat and it ran his guts. Doesn't sound pleasant at all

spuddy4 · 08/09/2024 13:27

@Florafleur I do agree with you about the weight loss industry being a money maker. I don't agree with you being any more likely to put the weight back on after you stop the injections though.

BIWI · 08/09/2024 13:31

@0BonneMaman0 LCHF = low carb high fat. If you follow a low carb diet, like Bootcamp, you eat higher fat.

@LibbyL92 there isn't currently a Bootcamp running, but the latest thread is still an active chat thread. Next one will probably be some time in October.

FriendofDorothy · 08/09/2024 13:32

Techno56 · 07/09/2024 14:42

Cost
Side effects
Unknown long term effects
What happens when you stop

Exactly this.
Too many unknowns.

TabithaHazel · 08/09/2024 14:17

spuddy4 · 08/09/2024 13:05

Surely you'll put the weight back on after losing it with any diet if you don't make permanent lifestyle changes? I don't think it's exclusive to weight loss injections, I've known people who have spent years back and forth slimming world after losing them putting back on again.

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Yes that’s obvious, so why use a drug if it’s not going to help long term? As I said I changed my lifestyle and lost weight, but the thread I mentioned was full of people who took the drug but didn’t change their lifestyle and piled the weight back on. So what was the point of taking it in the first place? In my opinion there should be a more holistic approach for those who take the weight loss drugs, with psychological support to ensure sustainable lifestyle changes. But that doesn’t seem to be the case and so they seem like a very expensive waste of time.

Hoplolly · 08/09/2024 14:36

If you were to read any of the threads on here @TabithaHazel you would see that the people using the weight loss drugs are making lifestyle changes. It's actually wrong to call them weight loss drugs as they're not a miracle drug, they don't make you lose weight, they make it easier for you to lose weight but you still have to do the heavy lifting by sticking to a calorie deficit and exercising.

Bignanna · 08/09/2024 14:38

AhBiscuits · 07/09/2024 15:47

Are you 71 and have had fucking loads of cosmetic surgery? If not, your fears of looking like Sharon Osborne are likely unfounded.

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She’s only looked like that since taking weight loss drugs!

GigiAnnna · 08/09/2024 14:41

I think it's about mindset. When I know I really want to lose weight then I know I can do it by dieting. I also don't want to rely on taking them long term and I'm worried about side effects.

SilenceInside · 08/09/2024 15:05

@Bignanna she would never be prescribed Wegovy in the UK as she was a healthy weight before she started using it, and went down to a scarily underweight level. That's what's messed with her looks, being severely underweight, elderly and having had lots of facial plastic surgery done.

110APiccadilly · 08/09/2024 15:10

Haven't got the money.

Also I'd worry I'd get thinner but maybe not healthier. I've lost about 20kg the last 18 months by making small changes to my diet (less bread, mostly) and going to the gym and I feel loads better - have more energy, sleep better, etc. I'm not convinced weight loss drugs would replicate that, and I think for me if I were on them I might not bother with the gym!

noclouds · 08/09/2024 15:14

I'm more worried about the impact of being overweight on my health, particularly diabetes. I have relatives who are overweight and take so many tablets to control diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and then other tablets to counteract the impact of all the side effects.
I believe if I can loose weight and stay healthy I can prevent a lot of related health conditions.
I am taking mounjaro and I have lost 4 st and 2 more stone to go but feel so much healthier