Everyone seems to be on injections

[pinkyponkyplink]

My bmi is around 27/28 so I can't take the injections can I? But then I'm struggling to lose weight and have been for over 18 months. Everyone seems to be on injections now and it seems much less hassle. Anyone else feel like this? Do people stop using the injections when they hit 30 bmi??

That's their business though. What else are they supposed to say if people notice weight loss and they aren't comfortable sharing?

People can be obese whilst not 'looking very overweight'
Another thread had people insisting that you couldn't be obese at a size 16. Size 16 isn't massive, but I was well into obese at size 16. You don't know what people weigh.

I'm BMI 28 and have been trying to get down to BMI 25 for 15 years so I have just started on it. You can get the jabs if you have high cholesterol/BP or are pre-diabetic, among other things, with BMI 27+.

Indeed. I am in size 12 clothes and BMI 28.

Also my buying the pens with a private prescription is not stopping people getting Mounjaro on the NHS. It's up to the NHS itself to make those decisions.

@Doyouthinktheyknow would your paitents who are severally mentally ill be able to eat a healthy calorie deficit, with good levels of protein, fiber, fruit & veg, (while not eating fried food, beige food, processed carbs etc) and be well hydrated, along with regular daily exercise? And maintain this for months/years to keep the weight off over a lifetime?

Because those of us losing weight using WLI have to do this. The WLI aren't magic - they support the patient to make dietary & lifestyle changes. It is these changes that cause the weight loss. Taking the WLI alone isn't enough.

As for the affordability angle, many of us find that we are spending much less on food/snacks/drinks etc. In my case the WLI costs me very little if I factor in reduced food bills, not buying booze etc.

I've been looking into the gallstone issue - I do not want gallstones if I can avoid it.

It seems the main risk is being overweight.

Also rapid weight loss.
NHS.uk tells me weight loss around 1lb to 1kg a week is safe - this is within the rate of loss I am experiencing.

So my weight loss on WLI is within the recommended pace/range, and I am reducing my risk of gallstones by reducing how overweight I am.

So while WLI do not seem to be the cause of gallstones, rapid weightloss can be. Those I know who are losing a lot of weight on WLI are within the recommended loss ranges.

"From the limited evidence available, changes to your diet and losing weight (if you're overweight) may help prevent gallstones."

www.nhs.uk/conditions/gallstones/prevention/

I'm now in a size 16 and I am still obese BMI (though no longer morbidly obese thanks to WLI).

I'd love to be in the "overweight" range and I am heading there.

Then you're surely going to have to take them forever.

I actually developed gallstones years ago after dieting 'the right way' by increasing exercise, decreasing calories to a 500 deficit, cutting carbs and feeling starving hungry and miserable for the better part of a year to lose 1 lb a week. It was the cherry on top when I discovered that doing everything right had resulted in a severely infected gallbladder requiring emergency surgery and a 5 day stay in hospital.

The truth is that gallstones are more likely in women, likelihood increases after pregnancy and increases more with each subsequent pregnancy. Likelihood increases more with weight gain, and then as an added F U, that likelihood increases more with weight loss.

So yes, if you use WLIs successfully to lose weight you are at increased risk of getting gallstones, but you are if you lose weight the old fashioned way too.

"Then you're surely going to have to take them forever."

Possibly. GLP1's may well be like other drugs people take "forever" like statins or beta blockers (I am sure there are many others). If it helps maintain a healthy body weight, and therefore dramatically reduce health risks caused by obesity and reduce the chance of various metabolic disorders linked to obesity what would be the problem?

But honestly the relief from "food noise" is so great that I would stay on GLP1's forever if that is what needed to happen. That would be not only for WL, but for the mental health break. GLP1's have really affected my brain in a very positive way.

GLP1 med's are still in fairly early stages. They have been a very successful treament for diabetics, and now for obesity. I think they will very soon be used to treat drug/alcohol addictions and could be prescribed for mental health conditions too. GLP1 med's really are a game changer.

A maintenance dose will come in a pill form before too long & I'll be here for it.

"So yes, if you use WLIs successfully to lose weight you are at increased risk of getting gallstones, but you are if you lose weight the old fashioned way too."

And if you don't lose weight - you are also at risk from obesity causing gallstones.

Yup, damned if you do and damned if you don't 😂

A friend of mine had emergency surgery for gallstones - he's never been overweight.

I would be a good candidate for them but I try not to take medication generally, except when absolutely necessary.

I’m worried about muscle loss too and anything that could potentially affect the pancreas. Or hormones/brain chemistry.

On the other hand, if I tip over in to diabetes II, that is not great for one’s pancreas either!

Funnily enough, the injections being out there and not wanting to take them, is spurring me on to give it one more really good effort naturally, 😀

Same here @Beyondthewindowsill555. since the day I refused the med shipment the cravings are very low. Somehow knowing it’s long term and like I mentioned doesn’t solve the constant meal planning has spurred me on.

Yep

Yes. And I don’t see that as a problem.

I find it odd that people can take medication for life - for many, many different health issues - and it’s accepted yet somehow someone taking medication for obesity for life is wrong. If someone has manageable or no side effects, why is it any different? These drugs may well turn out to be bad news but let’s not forget they have been in use for many years - the application is different but their use is not.

Im on them. More than happy to take them forever or explore one of the many maintenance plans pharmacies are now beginning to put in place. I'm under no illusions as to what could happen once I've lost the weight, given that I've regained lost weight several times before. I'm happy to consider all options.

They aren't for everyone, but as someone with a starting bmi of over 40, for me they have been utterly life changing.

Same

actually investigating the injections helped me. I realised I could make more effort but the injections were effort + medication and all the issues that entails. I really didn't want medication.

also, never heard anyone say "food noise" but I don't have that as described here. It seems like it really helps if you have that.

I’m very excited about being on them for life. It means I now have a healthy future ahead of me.

New WLI meds will come out, eventually in tablet form, which will be great.

No amount of eat less and move more will sort out my endocrine condition so this really has been life changing stuff. I’m finally free!

What medication they are taking and who they choose to tell is their private medical business.

Do they have right to know every aspect of your medical business? No.

They are your friends. The reasons they don't want to share are obvious, so just be happy for them that they have found something to help them with their obesity and health.