Is being Obese an illness?

[agel]

Yes or No
Im really not trying to start an argument. I want to understand what people actually think/know/believe about this.

I am obese and am trying to gain some sort of control over my eating through therapy at the moment. I’ve tried diets and exercising that do work but long term I don’t seem to be able to change my lifestyle enough to keep the weight off. I hate living like this and how people treat me differently because of my size. My family don’t understand at all. My partner is not understanding and it’s seriously affecting our relationship in many ways. It seems unfair because I don’t feel I have much control over this. It’s actually very lonely being in this situation. I rarely mention the topic of my health or weight to others because pardon the pun it’s always the elephant in the room! But you can almost hear what people are thinking. I hate the judgemental looks and comments. I rarely go out now because of anxiety and panic attacks brought on by this situation.

80 percent of people who lose weight without meds regain it all within five years, no solution exists for them other than to hop back on the merry go round, and start dieting again, none of them wish to regain as it’s hard dieting, but it’s even harder maintaining. A life of abstinence, denial,depravation

if you lose weight with the support of the meds, you can maintain for life, you either stay on a low dose for ever, or you go on and off, buying a new pen if you gain a few pounds, or stay off if you’re one of the twenty percent who can keep it off, but that twenty percent are unlikely to be on the meds,

why. As most people who take the meds do so as a last resort not a first, they have tried everything else first and failed, it’s the 80 percent.

the only thing that would make you stop or not be able to buy occasional pens is if your financial circumstances changed,

Howvee as a pp said these drugs will come out of patent in five years or so. There are multiple drugs now in final testing, so more will hit the market, and with increased competition price will drop.

It's okay I don't think anyone is looking to you for the solution lol.

These are just general thoughts about inevitabilities. Yay capitalism etc etc

Sorry, it makes me feel that blame is being apportioned to those who can afford it when that probably isn't the case from most people. It's not very "lol" inducing for me, I find it somewhat upsetting to think about.

I also agree, and feel it’s a terrible situation. Albeit short term, in five years when these are out of patent the nhs will be prescribing the generics, it’s a time limited short term issue, whilst rhe pharma companies recoup the money they invested and profit, in five years that will stop,

in the meantime will I stop using them due to rhe unfairness, no of course not, that would be idiotic, just like I’m not about to give my house to a charity and sleep on the street as there are homeless people, or switch my heating off as some people can’t afford to heat their homes,

life is full of inequality, private health care has existed for decades, it’s not something new,

I don’t react that way, I do think some people would like others to not use them as they can’t afford them, but as said, I’m not about to give up everything I can afford as others can’t, and I don’t expect anyone to give up something I can’t afford nor do I think it’s their fault I can’t afford it,

That may be how you feel but nothing that I've said has been written in a tone that would suggest blame. You can have your feelings and I'll keep my dry sense of humour :)

Yes, that's why I started my post with an apology and said that I was wrong in that perception.

I think that it helps for those on WLI not to be shy about describing their “before” and “upon taking” WLI.

I have an admission that this time last year, I judged, really judged, those taking WLI. I am ashamed of that. I was (and still am if I’m honest) jealous I can’t try. And I would be sat there miserable hungry thinking how easy I would have it to turn off that feeling. And also I would feel how unfair it is those who have money can buy this magic and not have to try any more. Or at least it’s easier. I don’t think that way any more, though I do resent the “class” divide. I have tried to listen and learn over the last year.

I think that the more people like me really realise what living with obesity on WLI is - perhaps we can start to apply more and more pressure so we can all benefit.

Of course not. It’s a lack of self control and discipline resulting in too much &/or the wrong type of stuff going in and not enough energy being burnt off through movement etc.

There’s clearly medical conditions that could make it more likely, but it all comes down to the balancing of what goes in and what gets burnt off.

I actually think it’s damaging to individual and societal health that people seem to make excuses for it rather than just tackling it for what it is, recognising the harm it can cause.

I know that may seem harsh as it puts ownership at the individuals door but viewed differently, that’s where the power lies: it means people can do something about it if they wish.

Well. You've got 14 pages of catch-up.

I am sure all obese people have their own story for how they got that way. My parents expressed their love through food so I was an overfed child. I grew up eating huge portions and never felt I had an off switch when it came to food. I lost weight at uni but every day of my slim life involved a terrible battle against my hunger; for years. It got me down. It’s like my neural pathways are forever programmed for obesity. You’d think being slim for years might reprogram them but sadly not.

Eventually it got the better of me. I know I can do it on my own but I also can’t anymore. So GLP1 has been helping me and it’s great. The weight loss is incredibly slow for me but the mental relief is worth it!

I was thinking about this thread last night, it occurred to me;

if someone told us five years ago, we would be able to get a medication, that regulated our appetites, we’d be able to stick to a diet, get hungry fir meals, eat healthy portions, not snack, no cravings, and it would come with other health benefits, we’d not have believed them.

its an enormous advancement in medicine, and huge and critical health benefit to many global populations.

access is an issue but in five years again. It will look very different, there will be many versions available, the nhs will readily prescribe, generic versions will be easily accessible at affordable price points for most.

I think sometimes people think this is it, everyone is on them, I’m being left behind, but it’s not the case, somewhere between 3 and 7 million people are on in the uk, which is approx 20 percent of the overweight and obese population, 80 percent are not,

and in fact if you don’t use online forums, these drugs are not hugely prominent in every day life, there is a huge amount of misinformation on them, much of it spread by people who resent their existence and some publications, for examples rhe daily mail regularly posts factually inaccurate articles on them,I assume for thr clicks.

but five years ago we’d never have imagined where we are now and in another five years it will be very different again, with widespread and affordable use.

and that’s fantastic news, the cost of obesity to the nhs is many billions, you reverse obesity, you reduce cancers, heart attack, strokes, diabetes, joint replacements, fatty liver, cardio vascular disease etc. and you free up the money used to treat these things today, to improve other areas of the nhs, or spend it on schools, police, whatever,

I agree that these medications represent a significant medical advance, but I think some of these predictions are considerably more optimistic than the evidence currently supports.
For example, NHS England is working towards a phased rollout of tirzepatide that could take up to 12 years, rather than five. NICE has also indicated that semaglutide may not lose exclusivity until late 2031, with tirzepatide potentially remaining protected until 2037–2038. So widespread access to inexpensive generic versions within five years is far from assured.
There is also the important issue of long-term treatment. Clinical trials have demonstrated substantial weight regain following discontinuation, suggesting that many people may require ongoing medication to maintain the benefits. That raises significant questions about affordability, sustainability and health inequalities.
I also think we need to be careful about assuming that reducing obesity will automatically release billions of pounds for other public services. There are substantial costs associated with providing these medications, and any savings from preventing obesity-related diseases would need to be assessed against the costs of potentially lifelong treatment.
None of this diminishes their clinical value. But a genuine medical breakthrough and a financially sustainable population-wide solution are two different things.
I think there is every reason to be optimistic about future developments, but considerably less reason to assume that affordability, access and long-term sustainability will be resolved within five years.

So true @Charlenedickens that’s a great summary.

And our own thoughts and opinions also change.

As I wrote in an earlier post, I was “one of those” who was highly judgmental even as an obese person because a I was jealous and b I still thought the reason I couldn’t stick to normal eating and actually feel full was my own, weak willed, gluttonous self. And (as some posters have said in here) just be more in control. And the “them and us” current access divide.

I’ve always owned up to my jealousy which isn’t particularly helpful but perhaps understandable when you’re still obsessively checking calories and feeling crap for feeling hungry.

The amount I’ve read about obesity over the last year or so has opened my eyes and I am now much more understanding and informed. You’d think that as an obese person I wouldn’t have been so ignorant. Perhaps years of being looked down on and judged myself who knows. I agree in five years the landscape will be as different again, for the better for everyone, thankfully.

I don't actually know anyone who does qualify on the NHS ...it seems to me you get as fat as you like and the NHS only care if you have 4 things wrong with you .

It does seem ridiculously hard to qualify for it on the NHS at the moment for weight loss purposes.

This is based on today’s landscape, it doesn’t take into account generic medications being approved and available at a much lower cost, it can’t, as it’s not happened yet,

the reason it’s 12 years today is due to cost. But when the generic versions becomes available the cost will be a fraction, and so the roll out plan will change,

that’s the point I’m making, the landscape will be very different in five years, it will not be as today, high cost, limited and prolonged roll out.

I take my hat off to you, I think it’s a sign of a good person to own up to jealousy, many do not,

and it’s not just with these meds, many people when they get jealous don’t own up to it, in fact they do the opposite, they attack and rip apart the thing they wish and the people who have it,

it could be anything from a successful career, to a nice house , to fab holidays, or a great car. Which is utterly pointless as everyone can see its envy, but their go to, is to attack and belittle to make themselves feel better,

I don't actually think they are giving it out for weight loss ,it's for the conditions they insist on ...if people happen to be fat that's a bonus

You know they forecast these things right? They know what is going to happen in the future rather than everything being based only on the present lol. It might not have happened with this medication but it has happened with many before and it is known what trajectory they tend to take in terms of costs.

Of course, why so agrressive, forecasting it does not mean they announce it to the public, what’s announced to the public is based on what is factual at rhe moment,

at no stage do they say well this is the roll out based on today but we reckon generics will be available by 2032 and multiple other medications, so price will drop possibly by 75 percent and if that happens here is the back up roll out plan,

I appreciate that the landscape will evolve, but I think there's a considerable difference between anticipating technological and pharmaceutical developments and predicting their economic and practical consequences.
Even if medication prices fall dramatically, that doesn't necessarily make population-wide treatment economically sustainable. We're potentially talking about millions of people requiring treatment for decades, rather than a short course of medication. A relatively inexpensive drug can still represent an enormous public expenditure when prescribed continuously at that scale.
There's also no guarantee that lower prices will translate into universal access. NHS funding decisions involve cost-effectiveness, competing healthcare priorities and the opportunity cost of allocating substantial resources to one intervention over others.
We also need to distinguish between reducing the prevalence of obesity and reducing the underlying drivers of obesity. These medications may be highly effective treatments, but they don't change the environmental and socioeconomic conditions contributing to the problem.
I certainly agree that the future may look very different. What I'm questioning is the assumption that pharmaceutical innovation and falling prices will inevitably translate into widespread access, sustainable long-term treatment and substantial net savings for the NHS. Those are outcomes that would need to be demonstrated, rather than assumed.

Just to clarify, I'm here because I genuinely enjoy debate, exchanging perspectives and exploring different arguments. I'm really enjoying the discussion and welcome disagreement, challenges and alternative viewpoints.
I'm not interested in interpersonal disputes or managing other people's emotional responses to differences of opinion. If anyone is interpreting an emotional tone in my contributions, that may reflect their own perceptions or simply my enthusiasm for the subject.
I'm engaging with the ideas being presented, not making personal judgements about the people presenting them. I don't consider disagreement to be conflict, and I'd much rather keep the conversation focused on the subject matter than on perceived intentions or emotions.
For me, a lively, intellectually stimulating discussion is something to enjoy, not something to take personally.

I don't think it is an illness in itself but is quite often a side affect of another long term illness.

E.g someone who struggles with mobility or dexterity due to arthritis will find it difficult to exercise or stand in the kitchen for an hour to cook healthy food from scratch.

@DeliaPith321 of course, it’s an interesting topic to debate. But for a lot of us discussing it, what is said is also about our own personal situation and decisions. We are part of the group that’s being discussed. Sometimes that generates emotions, we are (presumably) all human.