What’s stopping you from trying a GLP / meds?

[Anonymous]

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To be clear, you don't have to take it forever - I think for those of you who might just take it to lose 15lbs you could probably just wean off it and maintain to keep the weight off.

That is because - again - this drug isn't for you. It is for people who are obese and have a lot more to lose, and obesity is a disease that the drugs treat but do not cure. (Think blood pressure meds, for example.)

That said, I get why people would want to use it to lose 15 pounds. And I think if you haven't struggled with weight and/or food noise your whole life, you would have an easier time weaning off of it and keeping the weight off. But I could be wrong about that!

I took it to lose 25lbs. I was overweight, not obese but gaining and bloating like a balloon as I got older despite pretty good nutrition and being active. My mom has had huge health issues due to type 2 diabetes and weight: I was not willing to go down that path. I think I will stay on it forever. For me the issue is food noise, weight thoughts, having to restrict hard and obsess to lose 2lbs and regain them, constantly feeling bad and guilty about my body...It has freed up so much mental space that I've been able to achieve many goals in life not weight related at all, all from not having to think so much to just not get obese. Based on prior experience going off of it, I don't believe I can do all this if off this drug. Some people need various meds for various issues and stay on them for life, and I think this is me with this. I'm not on a high dose and my cost is reasonable and a small price to pay for all the benefits and the gift of physical health and a clear, happier mind.

It's like swapping addictions.

Swapping with what addiction?

Obviously, you were addicted to food and now you’re addicted to the drug. Neither seems particularly healthy.

+1 and what will you do when there are shortages, as there have been with various drugs? I can't see myself developing a dependence on glp to drop vanity weight. In the absence of health issues, 25lbs is vanity weight which could be lowered through traditional means. My bil, who has diabetes, went months without ozempic when this glp off label craze started. It pisses me off that his health suffered so otherwise healthy people could speed up getting ready for swimsuit season.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
To be clear, you don't have to take it forever - I think for those of you who might just take it to lose 15lbs you could probably just wean off it and maintain to keep the weight off.

That is because - again - this drug isn't for you. It is for people who are obese and have a lot more to lose, and obesity is a disease that the drugs treat but do not cure. (Think blood pressure meds, for example.)

That said, I get why people would want to use it to lose 15 pounds. And I think if you haven't struggled with weight and/or food noise your whole life, you would have an easier time weaning off of it and keeping the weight off. But I could be wrong about that!

I took it to lose 25lbs. I was overweight, not obese but gaining and bloating like a balloon as I got older despite pretty good nutrition and being active. My mom has had huge health issues due to type 2 diabetes and weight: I was not willing to go down that path. I think I will stay on it forever. For me the issue is food noise, weight thoughts, having to restrict hard and obsess to lose 2lbs and regain them, constantly feeling bad and guilty about my body...It has freed up so much mental space that I've been able to achieve many goals in life not weight related at all, all from not having to think so much to just not get obese. Based on prior experience going off of it, I don't believe I can do all this if off this drug. Some people need various meds for various issues and stay on them for life, and I think this is me with this. I'm not on a high dose and my cost is reasonable and a small price to pay for all the benefits and the gift of physical health and a clear, happier mind.

It's like swapping addictions.

Swapping with what addiction?

Obviously, you were addicted to food and now you’re addicted to the drug. Neither seems particularly healthy.

I don't think you'd ever say someone is addicted to blood pressure meds, meds they need for chronic migraines...Basically you are stigmatizing weight and food issues and assigning a moral value to them, which is not surprising.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
To be clear, you don't have to take it forever - I think for those of you who might just take it to lose 15lbs you could probably just wean off it and maintain to keep the weight off.

That is because - again - this drug isn't for you. It is for people who are obese and have a lot more to lose, and obesity is a disease that the drugs treat but do not cure. (Think blood pressure meds, for example.)

That said, I get why people would want to use it to lose 15 pounds. And I think if you haven't struggled with weight and/or food noise your whole life, you would have an easier time weaning off of it and keeping the weight off. But I could be wrong about that!

I took it to lose 25lbs. I was overweight, not obese but gaining and bloating like a balloon as I got older despite pretty good nutrition and being active. My mom has had huge health issues due to type 2 diabetes and weight: I was not willing to go down that path. I think I will stay on it forever. For me the issue is food noise, weight thoughts, having to restrict hard and obsess to lose 2lbs and regain them, constantly feeling bad and guilty about my body...It has freed up so much mental space that I've been able to achieve many goals in life not weight related at all, all from not having to think so much to just not get obese. Based on prior experience going off of it, I don't believe I can do all this if off this drug. Some people need various meds for various issues and stay on them for life, and I think this is me with this. I'm not on a high dose and my cost is reasonable and a small price to pay for all the benefits and the gift of physical health and a clear, happier mind.

It's like swapping addictions.

Swapping with what addiction?

Obviously, you were addicted to food and now you’re addicted to the drug. Neither seems particularly healthy.

I don't think you'd ever say someone is addicted to blood pressure meds, meds they need for chronic migraines...Basically you are stigmatizing weight and food issues and assigning a moral value to them, which is not surprising.

+1

At this point, some people need to start a thread titled "I'm desperate to invent reasons why GLPs are bad, because I think obesity is a moral failing, and fat people don't deserve to be a normal, healthy weight."

[Anonymous]

I am hesitant because reading things people taking them express, GLPs make one self-righteous and smug, while combative. I don't want to become insecure.6

[Anonymous]

What’s stopping me is having success through diet and exercise. I’m mid-40s and have lost 20 pounds in the last year through a modest deficit (1850 calories a day), walking and strength training. I started this journey with the goal of longevity though. That really motivated me to show up and stay consistent. Losing weight was a great side effect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What’s stopping me is having success through diet and exercise. I’m mid-40s and have lost 20 pounds in the last year through a modest deficit (1850 calories a day), walking and strength training. I started this journey with the goal of longevity though. That really motivated me to show up and stay consistent. Losing weight was a great side effect.

This is an outstanding attitude and absolutely the correct position. Nobody over 40 should be concerned with vanity. Focus on your health, real food, and movement and the rest will fall into place.

Or make up a bunch of pseudo science to explain away an addiction to fat, sugar, and salt instead of Whole Foods.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I’m in healthcare and I keep up with the latest research on this. The fact is, we don’t know what all the long term impacts are at this point. Newer studies are now showing that there are potential serious adverse effects on the kidneys and pancreas- you don’t want to mess with that. There’s a reason that doctors don’t want people going on this to lose vanity weight.

"in healthcare" - are you a doctor?

Can you cite the studies?

I assume a lot of people here are very smart - do you really believe all of this stuff that "people say" about the drugs or are you all getting this information from doctors and peer reviewed studies? Just stop stop stop with the misinformation. People want so badly for the negative stuff to be true.

Anyone can say they're in healthcare. That person could work data processing for a payment system and work in healthcare.

Definitely not in data processing, lol. I have to stay on top of all the research because I work directly with patients. No one is spreading any misinformation, everyone has access to google and medical journals (I just subscribe to a lot and get them directly to my email). I can copy and paste articles, which is a waste of my time to gather all this information for internet strangers when you can easily find it for yourself.

Of course there are adverse reactions and side effects… that is pretty much any medication. Here’s what’s being discussed right now for GLP’s:

Risk for thyroid C cell tumors
Gastroparesis (which can be irreversible and trust me, you don’t want this).
Gallbladder issues.

And by the way, I never told anyone not to take them. You people get so oddly defensive about your life choices. I said doctors are not keen to prescribe these for vanity reasons and there is a good reason for that.

Here’s another Medscape article written by a (gasp) doctor and not someone working at a data center:
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/1003255

DP. Adding mention of Washington Post article today about another possible side effect: malaise/less enjoyment from activities. I will note it also suggests a lower dose may improve/eliminate that effect....but it's still an effect that isn't being focused on and may well be being unreported/unidentified as attached to the medication/overlooked because of the other effects of the weight loss.
Point is: we still don't know everything and individuals' situations are different. So why don't I take a GLP? Because I don't believe the trade-off of potential side effects/unknowns is worth it for me yet.

I have been on the meds for several years, know several others who are and have spent a lot of time engaging with others online etc. and that is the first time I have ever heard of that side effect. Seriously. I don't doubt the people interviewed but look deeply into any drug that is taken widely and you can find unusual side effects in a small group of people. I hate to criticize the Post right now but "Ozempic personality" is such clickbait! Come on.

This medicine has changed so many lives for the better, including mine. People come with their pitchforks and negativity but I would encourage you to talk to your doctor, not be influenced by all of this speculation on chat boards from people who want so badly to emphasize the negatives. I am not trying to be defensive -- I just have actual real life experience with the drugs and know a lot of other people who do, and I know that the (real) benefits far outweigh the side effects for most people who take it.

For example, did you take the COVID vaccine? That was new and not totally studied - but the benefits outweighed the potential risks, and we trusted our doctors. It's different, obviously, but these drugs are saving lives just like those did.

Absolutely agree. Yes, I took the COVID vaccine. I had the J&J the day before the news came out about the potential blood clots or whatever it was for women.
And YES - it was a totally different situation: a pandemic; high risk and high fatality; highly contagious and therefore high-risk to others. Not taking a GLP does not risk the lives of people around me. And yes, GLP's have been life-savers for some people who take them. But the potential risks still do not outweigh the potential benefits for me (and many others) right now.

Also, you probably haven't heard of this potential side effect before because it isn't an obvious wide-spread one. The article points out how some people may have experienced it but not realized it or not made the connection with the GLP. As with all medications, not everyone will experience all or even any of the observed/reported side effects. That doesn't mean it's not still a risk. "Death" is so frequently a potential side effect, for heaven's sake; and clearly the vast vast majority of people who take whatever drug do not experience death from it.

[Anonymous]

I am already slim.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the talk of less enjoyment misses the fact that when you are overweight and feel like crap about yourself, you're not enjoying life either. "Ozempic personality"seems like a gross clickbait term to yet again stigmatize people around weight, as if now congrats, society won't judge you for being fat anymore, but your personality sure does suck!

I don't know why "Ozempic personality" has come in response to my mention of the Post article. Nevertheless, clearly the people who reported this effect were in indeed enjoying things enough to notice the effect. And it is very possible to be obese and still enjoy life, btw. Non-obese people can have a low opinion of themselves or poor body image, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
To be clear, you don't have to take it forever - I think for those of you who might just take it to lose 15lbs you could probably just wean off it and maintain to keep the weight off.

That is because - again - this drug isn't for you. It is for people who are obese and have a lot more to lose, and obesity is a disease that the drugs treat but do not cure. (Think blood pressure meds, for example.)

That said, I get why people would want to use it to lose 15 pounds. And I think if you haven't struggled with weight and/or food noise your whole life, you would have an easier time weaning off of it and keeping the weight off. But I could be wrong about that!

I took it to lose 25lbs. I was overweight, not obese but gaining and bloating like a balloon as I got older despite pretty good nutrition and being active. My mom has had huge health issues due to type 2 diabetes and weight: I was not willing to go down that path. I think I will stay on it forever. For me the issue is food noise, weight thoughts, having to restrict hard and obsess to lose 2lbs and regain them, constantly feeling bad and guilty about my body...It has freed up so much mental space that I've been able to achieve many goals in life not weight related at all, all from not having to think so much to just not get obese. Based on prior experience going off of it, I don't believe I can do all this if off this drug. Some people need various meds for various issues and stay on them for life, and I think this is me with this. I'm not on a high dose and my cost is reasonable and a small price to pay for all the benefits and the gift of physical health and a clear, happier mind.

It's like swapping addictions.

Swapping with what addiction?

Obviously, you were addicted to food and now you’re addicted to the drug. Neither seems particularly healthy.

DP. Being overweight does not automatically equate to being addicted to food. Especially when someone is only 25 pounds overweight. You're displaying either your sense of superiority and judgement or your ignorance of health and medicine. Perhaps both.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the talk of less enjoyment misses the fact that when you are overweight and feel like crap about yourself, you're not enjoying life either. "Ozempic personality"seems like a gross clickbait term to yet again stigmatize people around weight, as if now congrats, society won't judge you for being fat anymore, but your personality sure does suck!

Louder for the people in the back!

So you lose your lust for life whilst losing weight? and that's okay because, at least if you're going to feel like s h i t, it's all the better tofeel that way whilst being skinny?

+1
This is why GLPs are such a huge thing now. Vanity. Superificiality - it's all about looks.
I'm happy for the people for whom these drugs were really meant to treat and help. The others obviously need mental health support to improve their self-esteem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the talk of less enjoyment misses the fact that when you are overweight and feel like crap about yourself, you're not enjoying life either. "Ozempic personality"seems like a gross clickbait term to yet again stigmatize people around weight, as if now congrats, society won't judge you for being fat anymore, but your personality sure does suck!

One reason why glps work to stop overeating is because it diminishes the so called "food noise." This noise is also at work when you want to drink alcohol, have sex, basically the noise is a motivator of desire and enjoyment. Glps quiet the noise, resulting in anhedonia in many people. Anhedonia can lead to depression. At least you're thin.

Right. Alcoholics have a lot of counseling to learn how to enjoy other things in life once you take away alcohol. They were often drinking to cover up something missing. Obese people are similar in that they eat to make themselves feel better. If you take away the food, you need to work on underlying issues. (Obviously this isn't ALL obese people)

True - it feels better to not feel hungry.
Glad you at least acknowledged you weren't describing ALL obese people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The side effects. I have had to to have colorectal surgery and I really don't want to deal with the side effects from constant diarrhea or constipation.

Plus the cost. It's not cheap if you have other medical expenses.

Neither of these sides happened to me or anyone i know!

Doesn't mean it won't happen to PP. Potential side effects are noted for a reason: a significant enough # of people in studies DO experience them. Not everyone is willing to risk them for various reasons. Especially people who already have other conditions they don't want to potentially add to or exacerbate. Why can't people understand that? Fine if you want to try it and great for you that it was without negative impacts. So, how about fine for others making decisions they think are best for them, even if you think there's no risk to them?

[Anonymous]

It's kind of pointless to debate the merits of GLPs when those who are the medical target audience are being lumped together with the vanity weight crowd.

Every medication has tradeoffs. If you're obese and have unhealthy A1C levels, then the benefits outweigh the risks. If you're normal weight with normal bloodwork, then at least from a purely medical perspective, the risks should outweigh the benefits. If you and your doctor (not an online quack, but your regular doctor) agree that you would benefit from a GLP1, then that's between you and your doctor. It's not anyone else's business.

Everyone, whether on a GLP or not, should be eating healthy diets and getting regular exercise, including strength training. This shouldn't even be part of the debate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What’s stopping me is having success through diet and exercise. I’m mid-40s and have lost 20 pounds in the last year through a modest deficit (1850 calories a day), walking and strength training. I started this journey with the goal of longevity though. That really motivated me to show up and stay consistent. Losing weight was a great side effect.

I have been on 1200, strength train for over a decade and can't lose weight. I think the prime muscle development years was 14-24 and that boat sailed decades ago. Heavy weights can help you keep whatever you had but no woman is going to be the Rock in this life time.