Obesity jabs

I have a morbidly obese friend who once said to me that every addiction other than food isn’t immediately obvious, and I had never before thought of overeating as an addiction. It seems that drug addicts, smokers, gamblers and alcoholics have far more help to overcome their demons than people addicted to food.

It also made me think that in my co-ed boarding school of 500 children in the late fifties didn’t have a single overweight child.

I'm not sure how many people die from the complications of being obese but I'm sure you will find it will be many more than one !!

Other than fish and chip shops there wasnt any junk / ultra processed food then. People prepared and cooked fresh food. Meat and two veg etc.
Now there’s food abailable everywhere, every third shop along most high streets and it’s Tempting for many.

I have type 2 diabetes and despite losing over 4 stones by diet and exercise I was still significantly overweight and couldn't shift any more weight or get my blood sugar low enough. I was put on Ozempic 2 years ago. It has enabled me to lose a further 2 stones and get my blood sugar readings down. I'm still overweight according to my BMI but not by much. If I was being given the injections for weight loss I'm no longer overweight enough! The diabetic nurse has agreed that I don't need to lose more weight and I'm now on maintenance.

However these drugs are not simply a miracle cure. I feel a similar queasiness that I suffered in early pregnancy and the weight loss has come because I struggle to eat some days as I feel sick. I've gone off many foods I used to enjoy and have to force my self to eat some days. But I worry that if I give up the injections I may put back the weight. It's a difficult dilemma! Diet and exercise doesn't work for everyone and being told that it will is very upsetting for those of us who have struggled with our weight for a lifetime.

Someone with high cholesterol isn’t denied statins if they fail to give up the foods and lifestyle that raises levels because of costs. Or any other condition. Ozempic etc must also save money in long run in terms of preventing other ailments brought on by obesity.

There have always been thin and fat people but if you read Chris Van Tullikens book you will see that obesity really rocketed with the introduction of UPF. These foods contain chemicals that make you want to eat more until you become addicted to eating them.
Genetics also play their place and of course medication but these can’t be to blame for the huge surge in obesity. If the obesity jabs only work whilst taking them and don’t retrain people’s eating habits then they are not sustainable.
We do really come back to calories in and calories out. I too have always been slim but then I eat tiny portions, no UPF and exercise. I can of course put weight on when I stop exercising and eat more sugar so that suggests that you do have a choice in the matter of whether you are slim or overweight.

I always get quite cross when people call me skinny, I wouldn’t dream of calling people fat but apparently it doesn’t cut both ways!!!

Judge me all you like….gransnet does seem to be coming a bit judgemental lately.

Shizam

Someone with high cholesterol isn’t denied statins if they fail to give up the foods and lifestyle that raises levels because of costs. Or any other condition. Ozempic etc must also save money in long run in terms of preventing other ailments brought on by obesity.

Statins are very cheap.

I haven't managed to read many of the comments but I do know someone who "cannot lose weight". I wonder if it's anything to do with the trays and trays of Pepsi and the BOXES, not bags of crisps all over the house, biscuits too, more like a corner shop than a home! Just noticed her partner swigging from a large bottle of coke outside the house, now that is what I call greed and no control. Oh yes, and her partner was using Weight-Watchers meals two at a time.

I can easily maintain my weight with a 1200 calorie diet . I can slowly lose weight with a 1000 calorie intake. Neither of these are sustainable long term. My very skinny friend eats what she likes and remains skinny. I agree some people over indulge and that's why they are obese but others seem to have a tendency to be heavier inspite of lifestyle. I would love to know why !

A thin woman I know had cancer and was put on steroids as part of her treatment. She ballooned and was so distraught.
Nothing whatsoever to do with what she ate.
Now she's recovered and has come off the drugs she is thin again but with a healthy appreciation of the fact that obesity is not necessarily something you can control.

I have to take beta blockers and they are known to cause weight gain unless you cut back your calories. I was careful with my diet before, did lots of exercise too but now I cut back the calories but because they also cause tiredness I can't do as much exercise so it's a double whammy! I've put half a stone on despite eating smaller portions and following the Zoe diet but at 76 I need protein to maintain muscle mass. I'm lucky as I'm an ectomorph and even with the extra pounds I'm still pretty slim but I really sympathise with anyone who has struggled with their weight most of their lives. Wouldn't it be nice if in 2025 we could all show more understanding of the problems that others face. The person who feeds themselves on chips, crisps or chocolate might eat like that because it's the best thing that happens in their day. Who knows? I certainly don't and I won't judge them.

For those people who seriously wish to lose weight these drugs sounds a brilliant solution. Helping towards solving the huge and costly obesity problem suffered by such a huge proportion of the population of our county. No axe to grind as thanks to genetics I don’t have a weight problem.

growstuff

Doodledog

Well, I'm sorry, but if you're eating too many calories for your own body, it's not going to be healthy, whether it's the best quality organic home-cooked food or not.
I'm so pleased there are so many people on hand to tell people like me about diet . Can you help with exercise too, please, given that I have idiopathic desaturation on exertion?

Nope, sorry.

No, nobody can (including medical professionals). Yet so many people want to tell me what to eat, and make assumptions about what I do eat.

I realise that I can be defensive about it, and if I have overreacted I apologise, but when people who have no idea what my medical conditions are, or the impact they have on my metabolism talk patronisingly about calories and healthy eating I'm sure you can understand that it is infuriating.

But you have mentioned your hypothyroidism and respiratory details and what you eat in general terms. I am aware of the impact of hypothyroidism on the metabolism.

Ok, then I am not sorry for being angry . Can't you see how condescending it is to point out that a vegetarian diet can be unhealthy? If not, there's not a lot I can say, really.

If you want to loose weight you will Its all about Will power just don’t over eat Smaller portions more fruit veg You have to shrink your stomach You have to feel hungry Make soups with veg only one slice of bread You can have roast diners just be sensible and nice food but not big puddings eat a piece of fruit and a square of chocolate It’s possible if you want to loose weight
I have looked in shopping baskets
in supermarket recently full of to many carbs and wrong foods in bigger peoples baskets All to sad No will power If you want to loose you will It’s hard …..to easy these days to reward your self if you feel sad with something tasty !!!

There is so much unscientific and erroneous information around about both the causes of obesity and the weight loss injections.
www.sciencemediacentre.org/expert-comments-on-the-risks-and-benefits-of-tirzepatide-following-following-the-death-of-susan-mcgowan/
This is what the experts say following the death of the nurse. People unfortunately die after any drug but it is rare.
The drug is not unregulated if bought from a reputable pharmacy, mine is reviewed and prescribed by a doctor who is in touch with my GP.
Lots of studies are now showing that the obesity crisis coincides with the huge rise in ultra processed food which started in the 1980s, food marketed as healthy low fat etc contains chemicals which cause you to want more. No big food company is interested in your health, they just want to make money and to do that they have to sell more.

mumstheword86

If you want to loose weight you will Its all about Will power just don’t over eat Smaller portions more fruit veg You have to shrink your stomach You have to feel hungry Make soups with veg only one slice of bread You can have roast diners just be sensible and nice food but not big puddings eat a piece of fruit and a square of chocolate It’s possible if you want to loose weight
I have looked in shopping baskets
in supermarket recently full of to many carbs and wrong foods in bigger peoples baskets All to sad No will power If you want to loose you will It’s hard …..to easy these days to reward your self if you feel sad with something tasty !!!

Thank you so much! If only I’d realised. Where did you qualify as a dietitian? I could go there for help. Or do you give lessons in willpower at all? I could trade you for ones in grammar, since we are passing on unnecessary and potentially hurtful advice.

It’s all about paying attention at school and just sticking to the rules. All you need is a dictionary and a book about the rules of the English language. Easy.

Well said, Doodledog. I'm glad it's so black and white for some people. Would that it were so simple for everyone.

Do the advice-givers tell people with acne to drink more water and cut out chocolate? Or people with spinal problems to stand up straight?

The overweight seem to be singled out for this sort of thing, and people wonder why we don’t like it. Isn’t it blindingly obvious how awful it is? Or are fatties so far down the social hierarchy that it just washes over people.

A big problem about food addiction is that we all have to eat!
If it's smoking or alcohol addiction you can keep away from it at least in theory but not food.
We are surrounded by it and chocolate, cake and biscuits are still a popular gift regardless of how bad they might be!

Definitely easier to pile weight on than to lose it.

We are surrounded by it and chocolate, cake and biscuits are still a popular gift regardless of how bad they might be!

I agree - and somehow or other that needs to change or people need to ignore it, which is much easier said than done.

I believe these drugs make you feel full so you do not eat. How does this play out with people who comfort eat? Deprived of comfort might make them depressed.
A neighbour of mine (67) was on a weight loss drug and lost weight but lost her looks. She went from a round faced plump cheerful woman to a shrivelled miserable old lady. Be careful.

Needing post op a soft food diet at the moment has taken my usually healthy appetite completely away. It’s never happened before. Whoosh, it’s gone.

silverlining48

Needing post op a soft food diet at the moment has taken my usually healthy appetite completely away. It’s never happened before. Whoosh, it’s gone.

Oh I am sorry to hear that but I am sure your appetite will soon return