Obesity jabs

Many people do already have to meet weight targets before being referred for operations. It's not always as simple as just saying 'diet and exercise' - for instance, many medical conditions and even medications can cause weight gain, or make it harder to lose weight. There is also an argument to be made that prescribing weight loss medication could actually save the NHS money in the long term.

I think these jabs could actually save money in the long run , if you read the literature

I wonder whether people who need the jabs for their ongoing health could be made to suffer in some way to atone for being overweight? I mean, clearly they must all be idle gluttonous sloths with no willpower, and they are using 'wokery' to prevent anyone calling them the fatties they are. Perhaps an example could be made of them by making them take part in bootcamps on public land? That would stop them asking for potentially life-changing treatment, wouldn't it? After all, they obviously don't feel bad enough already despite being shamed on a daily basis by those fortunate enough not to have medical issues that cause weight gain, and the sort of genes that make staying slim easy for them.

Whilst we're at it, should we campaign to stop the NHS from treating people who have smoking-related illness? Cut services to those who drink more than 2 units of alcohol at a time? What about those who injure themselves playing sport? These things all cost the NHS a fortune, and it's time it stopped.

And while they're doing these outdoor 'bootcamps' they'll also be curing their depression or anxiety (according to the 'experts' on the other thread) and therefore saving the NHS even more money!

Well there's that, too.

We have already had at least two threads on this subject, maybe three
I don’t like the idea of these jabs at all, particularly the ones you can get without a gp working with you
There could be all sorts of dangers involved one woman has already lost her life maybe more
They are not miracles

This one is about the NHS providing them, so presumably there would be GP input.

faringdon59 You are absolutely right. Possibly there are some people who have gained weight due to a medical condition. But the obese people that we see every day are mainly those who have eaten far too much and exercised too little. I do not think NHS money should be spent on these jabs.

Even if it ended up saving the NHS more money in the long run?

ViceVersa No because all it does is encourage people to carry on eating what they like. I could be fat. I could happily sit here each evening munching on chocolate and crisps and drinking alcohol. I would love to have a cream tea a few times a week. I love fish and chips and would like to eat them often. I could be described as a cake-a-holic and would like to eat cake every day. But I rein myself in and don't do any of those things too frequently. When I feel my clothes getting a bit tight I cut down on food and exercise more. Simples.

Wow. Simples. Must be great for you. I bet every overweight person wishes their life could be so simple.

Are paragons of virtue born with an empathy bypass or does any empathy diminish as they age. Asking for a fattish friend.

If everybody listened to doctors and health advice nobody would be overweight or obese, would they? Smugness about our own self control is not going to help the people who are so obese that they need intervention to stop their weight killing them, after costing the NHS and other public services a great deal more money than a weight control drug would. It’s very easy to be judgemental, but people desperately want and need more help than advice from a doctor or other health professional can provide.

How about the government (any government) taxes far more highly all the ultra processed and use these taxes to subsidise fresh food and provide easy cooking lessons for those in need of help? I expect people could do with more help to provide themselves with modern cooking facilities. Let’s make healthier choice’s easier!

I believe there was a successful weight loss programme, perhaps in Oldham that helped people loose weight with individual support. Surely we should have more than one way of helping those with weight problems.

When I had my hip replacement recently, a fellow patient told me she had to lose several stones before she could have her knee op.

I asked her how she'd done it? A gastric band was the answer which she described as awful.

She was extremely happy to have her new knee.

We seem to be becoming increasingly judgemental with regard to other people's lives. I'm lucky in that my weight has stayed pretty consistent for the last 60 years, a combination of genes, a propensity to turn to alcohol rather than food in times of stress and a love of playing sport/being physically active. However, over the years I've cost the NHS quite a lot of money because of the various injuries I've had due to the sports and activities I do. The list is quite long ,broken ribs, fractured vertebrae, displaced kneecap, ruptured achilles, damaged cruciate ligaments, broken wrist, numerous broken fingers, broken arm, three hospital admissions (longest for two weeks), numerous clinic visits and two surgical procedures. Should we refuse to stop treating people who injure themselves playing sport?
I do not begrudge money being spent on people to help them lose weight neither do I begrudge money being spent to help people stop smoking, stop drinking, stop gambling etc. I've never had anyone suggest I didn't deserve treatment because I chose to ride, ski or play sports that meant I might fall over or stress my body and cost the NHS. FGS let's be a bit more accepting of people's frailties, none of us is perfect.

ayse

How about the government (any government) taxes far more highly all the ultra processed and use these taxes to subsidise fresh food and provide easy cooking lessons for those in need of help? I expect people could do with more help to provide themselves with modern cooking facilities. Let’s make healthier choice’s easier!

I believe there was a successful weight loss programme, perhaps in Oldham that helped people loose weight with individual support. Surely we should have more than one way of helping those with weight problems.

All those services are still available - NHS led obesity clinics, prescribed referrals to Slimming World, an NHS app. They all work for some people, but not for everybody, and sadly it’s often those who need to lose weight the most who fail on all the options. The new drugs are just one option, and in my view they really are needed.
I’m not sure if people see what it entails when morbidly obese people are admitted to hospital, and how much it costs to care for them. They often have to be craned out their home by a fire engine, they need special beds, trolleys and wheelchairs, up to 5 staff available to manoevre them, surgery is very high risk - and it is very undignified for the patient. themselves.

ViceVersa No because all it does is encourage people to carry on eating what they like. I could be fat. I could happily sit here each evening munching on chocolate and crisps and drinking alcohol. I would love to have a cream tea a few times a week. I love fish and chips and would like to eat them often. I could be described as a cake-a-holic and would like to eat cake every day. But I rein myself in and don't do any of those things too frequently.

You clearly know nothing about how the injections actually work to achieve weight loss.

merlotgran

ViceVersa No because all it does is encourage people to carry on eating what they like. I could be fat. I could happily sit here each evening munching on chocolate and crisps and drinking alcohol. I would love to have a cream tea a few times a week. I love fish and chips and would like to eat them often. I could be described as a cake-a-holic and would like to eat cake every day. But I rein myself in and don't do any of those things too frequently.

You clearly know nothing about how the injections actually work to achieve weight loss.

Emm, it wasn't me who said that, it as Skydancer.

Skydancer

ViceVersa No because all it does is encourage people to carry on eating what they like. I could be fat. I could happily sit here each evening munching on chocolate and crisps and drinking alcohol. I would love to have a cream tea a few times a week. I love fish and chips and would like to eat them often. I could be described as a cake-a-holic and would like to eat cake every day. But I rein myself in and don't do any of those things too frequently. When I feel my clothes getting a bit tight I cut down on food and exercise more. Simples.

Gracious.

I too am slim, but it's down to genetics, diet, and excessive dog walking. Many people have health reasons for excess weight, we really shouldn't judge nor impede their possible path to better health.

Jabs? Yes, if jabs allow people to live healthier and perhaps longer lives, and the NHS could save on treatment of obese patients.

Emm, it wasn't me who said that, it as Skydancer

My apologies. I often find quoted posts difficult to work out.

I think they are a valid treatment, BUT in the report I saw it was said that once patients get to their target weight & are taken off weight loss drugs, most of them put it on again. So the suggestion was that they should continue on these wildly expensive drugs lifelong.
Now that I don't agree with. Once they get to their target weight, with all the sense of achievement, inproved mobility etc that brings, it's surely up to them to make sure they don't pile the weight back on.

Did you watch the Panorama documentary on the subject. The patients featured all admitted that they are very greedy with food and just can't, or won't, stop. They will put all the weight back on if they don't, won't or can't change their attitude to food.

As my Dad used to say, there's no such word as "can't".
I have proved him wrong many times, but there's no such word as "can't" when it comes to eating sensibly.