So many friends on GLPs
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Anonymous
You seem to be posing a false dichotomy: be overweight or take GLP-1s. There are alternatives to GLP-1s like changing one's diet or exercising more. I do know overweight people who'd rather give the alternatives a fair shot before considering the GLP-1 route. The situation could be more dire for the truly obese for whom GLP-1s could be a better route than more drastic approaches like bariatric surgery. I have nothing to say about normal weight people who use GLP-1s other than I truly do not understand it anymore than I understand non-ADHD individuals taking Adderall. |
Anonymous
No it not a false dichotomy. We are talking about people who have been prescribed a medication for a medical problem. Most have likely “given the alternatives a shot”. The fact that you think they don’t know about that and haven’t tried because of laziness reflects poorly on you and your character. You responded (assuming you are the same poster) to someone who literally said they have been working out 5 days a week for years and weight loss stalled until zepbound. You actually suggested the person might be healthier staying overweight! I try to refrain from using pejoratives to describe comments but that one really tests my resolve. Not only have these drugs helped millions lose weight, they have reduced the number of surgeries substantially and that number continues to fall. https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2024/10/weight-loss-surgery-down-25-percent-as-anti-obesity-drug-use-soars/ You ignore the medical research on these drugs which is easily found and has been linked multiple times in this very thread. If you take any medications, ever, then you are a hypocrite as well. You really should stop posting on this topic until you do some research. You’re kinda dangerous. |
Anonymous
PP. I was actually an NP--this was my first post on this thread. So only the comment beginning false dichotomy is attributable to me. We must know different people. I know people who are overweight because they haven't been paying much attention to their increasing weight and actually have never tried to diet in any serious way nor gone on an ambitious exercise regimes. For these people--and I repeat this is about those with BMIs in the overweight category, NOT obese BMIs--it actually makes common sense to first try a change in eating habits and getting more exercise before leaping to GLP-1s, a medication that likely would have to be taken for life. For this group of people, the group my post clearly addressed, it is a false dichotomy to say they have a choice only of taking GLP-1s or being overweight. Millions of overweight people for many, many years before GLP-1s were able to lose weight through diet and exercise. For those who have tried and failed multiple times, GLP-1s are now available as an option. But promoting these medications as a first choice for this group is a bit odd. It is a totally different story for the BMI obese as I said in my post. |
Anonymous
I think chemicals in our foods definitely helped get us here. I posted on another thread that going off processed food has been a game changer for me. Food noise went away except for when I am getting hungry for a meal and it's much easier to eat in my weight-loss range. The problem is it is crazy time consuming and hard to sustain when life is busier. I have friends on GLPs and it has been incredible. They went on when they moved toward obesity at a doctor's recommendation. I am slightly overweight and now finally losing. I have not asked about it because some of the the rarer and more serious side effects are things that run in my family (without the medication) so I just don't want to go there unless I must, but I do think the drugs seem pretty amazing. |
Anonymous
I started with microdosing since I had a similar amount to lose. So injection is .15 as opposed to the lowest prescription dose of .25. It works without a lot of the digestive upset. Maybe a little at first but I’ve adjusted. I also don’t lose weight quite as quickly but am down 12 pounds in about as many weeks. I will add it has almost eliminated my peri symptoms including night sweats which has been a bonus. But hair loss is real. Not overwhelming but definitely happening. |
Anonymous
It’s for sure processed food. I’m here in the UK right now, and the junk in their supermarkets is as bad or worse than ours. And they are just as fat as the US is. I would honestly say that the volume of sugar is higher here, and candy more pervasive. I went looking for normal tart cherry juice at two supermarkets - tesco and sainsbury - not a thing. Lots of sugary blended products though. It’s extremely difficult, time consuming, and expensive to navigate around all the junk in our food system. |
Anonymous
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Most obese people try to diet and do the right thing every day. And fail. Fail and then the thoughts of failure consume them. Don't give in to the stereotype that obese people are lazy and stupid. They work harder than most on trying to eat well.
GLP1s are a true medical treatment for a medical problem. These drugs put obese people on a level playing field with everyone else. They still have to eat right, watch the macros, exercise, strength train, get sufficient sleep. With the drug though, those changes result in successful weight loss. I suppose some people misuse these drugs. But don't let that demonize GLP1s for the people who are truly helped by them. |
Anonymous
Yes, we must know different people for sure. For instance, you don’t know any of the people in this forum or this thread, nor what they explained quite clearly. You also don’t know the doctors who did the research listed, or the doctors who prescribe the medications. So if you prefer to stick to what you know and what that teaches you, and nothing else, that is certainly your prerogative. But maybe don’t post here like you know what you are talking about then, maybe? |
Anonymous
It’s actually kind of interesting how you double down on the “I know people” who are overweight through their own lack of self control that PP called you out for. Unless the people you are talking about are people whose medical records you have access to, you actually don’t know. You are making assumptions. And, even for those who you are very close to and think you know all, you don’t. I am a person who has struggled with my weight for 15 years. From the outside, I look as you describe - never tried to diet nor gone on serious exercise regimes. That’s not quite true - I have tried diet and exercise and can lose 10 pounds, but not more. I went from doctor to doctor asking for help about why I couldn’t lose weight and basically got the you’re lazy, old and perimenopausal/menopausal. Only when I pulled 10 years worth of blood work and did my own research, did I realize that I had Hyperparathyroidism and need parathyroid surgery. Hyperparathyroidism affects calcium levels, glucose metabolism, bone health, muscle strength, energy levels, sleep, and fat metabolism. In short, 10 years of Hyperparathyroidism affected my behavior and metabolism and body health in ways that contributed to me gaining about 50-60 pounds. The difference after surgery is clear - I no longer need daily naps. I do not have the same appetite. My muscles are stronger. I can sleep without getting up multiple times in ten nights to pee. And, when I overeat, I do not gain the same kind of weight I did previously. There are millions of people like me - people with health conditions or on medication that are contributing to weight gain in ways that are not as controllable as we commonly think. People who are diabetic or pre-diabetic have similar struggles….thyroid problems, medication side effects, mental disorders (depression, anxiety, etc.) The other bolted point “ Millions of overweight people for many, many years before GLP-1s were able to lose weight through diet and exercise.” - is really not accurate. While it may be true that people before GLPs could lose weight, it is also true that only a very small percentage could lose weight and keep it off, and an even smaller percent could lose significant amounts of weight and keep it off. your statement pretends otherwise. So, please stop judging and have a little grace for people. You really don’t know what’s going on with them. |
Anonymous
| Best decision I have ever made. After many years of just “trying harder” and failing, I am losing a pound a week. For those who have not had to lose 50 lbs or more and keep it off, just sit down and stop talking. The vast majority of people can’t do it, without medication. I’ve done it all, gained it back and some. This feels like the first sustainable thing I’ve ever done to manage my weight and I’m thrilled. |
Anonymous
I was obviously not talking about people with medical illnesses that cause weight gain. And, personally, I am all too familiar with how long and challenging it can be to get a proper diagnosis and treatment. I am not sure what that has to do with GLP-1s as the first course of action is to treat the underlying illness. Likewise, it is known that some medications cause weight gain; steroids and SSRIs among others are notorious for this. I don't know if any studies have been done that look at interactions between these medications and GLP-1s or, a distinct possibility, that could end up recommending them to counter weight gain effects. But illness and medication are not the major cause of weight gain. People are busy, frequently stressed and sedentary, and often not paying much attention to what they eat. Many just accept putting on pounds as the normal state of things as they age. This is far more common than putting on weight because of illness or medication. For this group of people, changing diet and exercising more could well result in weight loss and is a sensible first step. As I said above, it this does not work they always can consider GLP-1s if they are comfortable taking a medication for life. |
Anonymous
| I very much doubt that those on GLP-1s have not tried diet and exercise. But thank you for reminding us of the availability of that route. I’m sure you’ve enlightened many. |
Anonymous
Very likely you are right. But I was responding to a post that said overweight people have a choice between staying overweight and taking GLP-1s. This was not qualified by saying overweight people who have repeatedly tried dieting and exercise and despite their best efforts are still overweight. I said this was a false dichotomy and pointed out that there are plenty of people who are overweight who have not seriously tried dieting and exercise and for this set of people trying the diet/exercise route before jumping to GLP1s was a sensible route that can work for many, sparing themselves having to take a medication for life. For this I was called judgey, dangerous and a hypocrite. I am guessing the people posting on this forum must be chronic dieters who have met with little success before GLP-1s, and I applaud that success. But outside this forum there are plenty of people just not paying much attention to their weight gain and just accepting it without much thought. |
Anonymous
Yeah that last paragraph… you keep typing it… as if it is meaningful, thoughtful, or useful, when it is none. There’s all kinds of people, including some who LIKE being fat. But that is certainly not the norm, certainly no one here so far, and certainly not a person who needs be considered in a thoughtful discussion about GLPs. You still don’t seem to get that. You responded to a post with a sub-thread and jumped into the discussion accusing a poster of presenting a false dichotomy when they were responding to a post that said a person might be healthier staying overweight, and that the doctors helping them might be wrong. Did you even read that one? It appears not. So yeah, you’re kinda dangerous… at least your postings here are. |
Anonymous
| People that have not seriously tried diet and exercise aren’t going on GLP-1s. As a meter of fact I had to show that tix tried that first to get my doctor to prescribe. |