Why wouldn't you take weight loss drugs?

[0BonneMaman0]

Seems like the whole world is taking them.

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

I'm a bit overweight. But food is my love language. I love baking and making food for people. I enjoy going out for dinner and trying new recipes.
I honestly don't know what I would enjoy if all that went out the window.

I tried them once, only took a tiny bit / a much reduced dosage. but was really sick, my stomach just can't tolerate them.

I find if I eat strict for the most part I enjoy and appreciate my favourite food even more. I give myself one night at the weekend to have whatever meal I like and a bar of chocolate. I feel like I've "earned" them and think it's the balance between losing weight but not depriving myself and still eating the things I love.

I have lost 3st this year without the injections, age 54 and a starting BMi of 30 so I would have qualified for them. I finally made a major effort to permanently manage my food intake.

I have lost the weight by reducing carbs, especially UPF, counting calories and upping exercise which even if not contributing hugely to weight loss has improved my mood and made me feel fitter.

My fear in taking them would have been that I felt I could not do it on my own and that I would likely put all the weight back on once I came off them.

The first post lists my reasons (but not necessarily in that order)
Cost
Side effects
Unknown long term effects
What happens when you stop

That's me too but when I am dieting I enjoy finding new things to eat or making a recipe more healthy, it's been quite eye-opening actually as I am now bamboozled why some recipes are made so calorific, same for eating out.

I'm so happy to make healthy food and all my baking I reduce sugar etc
I just find food such a lovely part of life ... it seems unbelievable to me that I could just not want to eat ! Maybe I have no clue what its like

For me, building lean muscle tissue is the goal (and should be for everyone who is interested in longevity, managing metabolic issues, protecting bones / joints, managing blood sugar fluctuations and keeping weight under control in the long term). And to build and repair muscle you need to eat plenty. I wouldn't want to not feel hungry. I have a good appetite to fuel my workouts. I want energy. I want to perform the best I can when I'm exercising. Building muscle would be hard to do if you weren't hungry.

I have read many of them thanks, and they are for sure full of people with good intentions, but not many threads or posts from people who are say 2 years post stopping the drugs and have kept off the weight. I’ll try and find the thread I mentioned which for me made quite sobering reading. I agree they are not a miracle drug, but it seems you need to stay on them for life to maintain the weight loss.

Well it hasn't been around long enough for those threads to exist. There is a thread for graduates, of which I am one. No issues so far, time will tell.
I'd rather be a healthy weight and fighting to maintain than obese and trying, but failing, to lose, as I was for many years.

Well duh. Because there aren't any people who are 2 years post weight-loss 😆 but no you don't need to stay on them for life, just like you don't need to stay on Weightwatchers for life.

What you need to do is not eat in excess of the calories that you burn.

So how are the long-term side effects known if there aren't any people who are two years post weight loss.

Upthread posters were saying that the long term side effects are well researched with few effects.

Are people worried about the long term, if there is no evidence of the long term.

What you need to do is not eat in excess of the calories that you burn

If it's that simple then why the need for the drugs? And how can there be no-one that is 2 years post weight-loss when these drugs have been around for years? But if as you say 'there aren't any people who are 2 years post weight-loss' how can you possibly know there are no long-term side effects or that people don't need to stay on them for life? Your arguments are contradictory.

I never said there weren't any long-term side effects, so how am I being contradictory 😑I said you don't need to stay on it for life - and you can't (I believe) with Ozempic and Wegovy, you can with Mounjaro - but you don't have to. That is a choice that individuals will need to make on their own based on how well they feel they will cope off the medication.

And yes, it is pretty basic that you need to burn more calories than you eat, but for some people that it isn't that simple for a variety of reasons, which I am sure that you don't need spelling out for you.

Contradictory as up thread you said '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 then later you say there is no-one post 2 year weight loss. Both things can't be true surely?

Wegovy, the version of ozempic for weight loss, has been available for a year in the UK. Mounjaro less than that. It's been available in other countries for longer and used in different dosages to treat diabetes for decades.

Everyone gets very focused on what happens after. The regain rate for injectibles aren't worse than any other method. Maintaining weight loss is hard and most people will regain, however the weight was lost. I'm finding it easier than when I lost weight through calorie counting. I had 7 months when I didn't snack or overeat once. I've got into new routines and continued to lose after stopping. I can run again now I'm not fat and have started a weights program.

Most people taking the drugs are not idiots looking for a miracle cure. They have tried and tried to lose by other methods and can't sustain it. They are doing their steps, drinking their water, getting their 5 a day. These drugs are a game changer that are finally allowing them to break bad habits they haven't been able to on their own.

That they are chemicals, known to affect your metabolism. Side and long effects, really depend on each person.
Now, I am a Chemist. I have worked in Pharma trying to find new drugs. Also, in Environmental Science. And I will not touch no chemical at least my life depends on it. So, if I can lose weight naturally, that will be it.
Also, I have been told about a case of a diabetic patient taking ozempic via NHS ( I believe it has a different generic name) as it was the only drug to work for them from several tested. Now that the drug is on sale for the general public, they cannot get it for free and apparently it costs a fortune. With the mess we are in, we should think twice before adding to the problem here. Hopefully Labour will see to the disparity of prices in drugs shortly and sort this issue.

I don't think they will be healthy long term.
I get better results going ultra low carb, and fasting. I was shocked when I heard the average weekly rate of loss.

I did - but they made me feel awful.
Tired, dizzy and weak.

Instead I have decided to focus on building a strong body and muscle mass, so I have changed how I eat and move and the knock on effect has been a leaner body ( but I also feel much better too).

It may not be the same for everyone, but was true for me.

The one thing I wish all women knew was regardless of fat mass, how much building muscle matters for quality of life in midlife and older age

I’m a big fan of them. People seem to focus on the appetite suppression side but there’s so much more to it than that, hormone and blood sugar balancing.

Ive been on the lowest dose for 4 months and finally lost the weight I’ve been trying to lose for 2 years. I changed almost nothing else in my life. Blood sugar came down from pre diabetic to optimum range.

before taking ozempic I was strength training min 3 times a week and eating all the right foods. Now I do the same and I am finally seeing the results, my appetite isn’t lowered although I definitely think about food less and it has lessened the appeal for alcohol,

The only minor effect I’ve had is dizziness when standing up. But I am delighted I have reversed my pre diabetes, I will stop taking it now and continue my good habits. I don’t expect to regain the weight now my body / hormones seems back to a good starting point.

@TabithaHazel Still not contradictory - maybe look up the definition.

I can say that I think it's funny people are concerned about the long term side effects of one jab but not another.

I can also say we don't know if there are any long term side effects of people using the jab for because it's not been around long enough.

Neither statement contradicts the other because in neither statement am I saying there are or aren't long term side effects.

The contradictoriness I refer to is that you say there is not yet anyone post 2 year weight loss who could come and post about whether or not they have kept the weight off, yet you also say the drugs have been around for years.

I can see why you are defending so strongly - everyone starts a diet whether that is fueled by these drugs or not almost evangelically when they begin to lose weight, but the real test is whether the weight stay off if you stop taking them. Recent studies say no:
'Various studies have attempted to examine this particular question, and all seem to point to the same answer – the pounds swiftly pile back on' https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20240521-what-happens-when-you-stop-taking-ozempic

So personally I wouldn't take them as I don't want to be on them for life, and the cost would be astronomical. A poster upthread just wrote 'Ive been on the lowest dose for 4 months and finally lost the weight I’ve been trying to lose for 2 years. I changed almost nothing else in my life' so as soon as that person stops taking them the weight is likely to pile back on as they admit they have not made any lifestyle changes.

I think you’ve taken my quote out of context and not bothered reading my full post. My point being I HAD made significant lifestyle changes. Trust me! I exercise in some form 5 days a week and had been for nearly 2 years - and my nutrition (whilst not 100% perfect) was/is very good.

And still I couldn’t lose the weight. Once your blood sugar and insulin response is out of balance, it is very hard to lose weight. Having reset my metabolic system by sitting at a healthy weight, and continuing my healthy lifestyle I shouldn’t “pile it back on”. I’m not sitting at home with biscuits all day.

I've absolutely made him start this. I'm buying high protein snack/meals but let's face it, he didn't do the work to lose it naturally so I doubt he'll do enough to seriously build muscle even though he does work out several times a week and has switched from cardio to weights. Let's see.

It’s no wonder people who are taking them don’t feel they can admit it with some of the attitudes on this thread.

I have been taking Mounjaro for 3 weeks. Can I afford it? Not really. Am I lazy? No. But I am disabled, I can not exercise. I can’t even walk my dog anymore I have to pay a neighbour to do it. I have CFS. So as much as I used to love going to the gym I can’t do it anymore. I am pre diabetic with PCOS, I needed help. This injection has helped.

Good for anyone who doesn’t need them, but respect those who do please.