Forget Universal Healthcare: Start with Universal Ozempic

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How did we go from about 15% obesity in 1970 to what we have now? Anybody care?

Much greater access to fast food and processed food and sedentary lifestyles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How did we go from about 15% obesity in 1970 to what we have now? Anybody care?

Yes — but no one really knows the answers. Obesity rates have changed rapidly. So many variables are in the mix: from stress, to food additives and other issues with processed food, to innumerable environmental factors. People from other countries often gain weight in the US — and lose it when they return home, which at least suggests issues with the food supply. This is the one concern that I share with RFK jr, so it’s too bad that the scientific structures that were set up to continue to work on answering questions like these are being dismantled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How did we go from about 15% obesity in 1970 to what we have now? Anybody care?

Much greater access to fast food and processed food and sedentary lifestyles.

High fructose corn syrup, more processed foods, larger portion sizes, sugar or other sweeteners added to everything, more take-out and convenience food eating

[Anonymous]

Instead of government run grocery stores, democrats should run on free ozempic for anyone who wants it. It cuts down on food bills a lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why? Because people need access to basic healthcare, and because treatments like this need to be monitored. So carving out this one medication means that those privileged enough to already have healthcare will have access to it, while those who won’t have access to healthcare, let alone consistent healthcare, still won’t have access to this particular class of medications — no matter how wonderful they might be.

I’m much more concerned about universal healthcare access for everyone than I am about this particular carve-out.

My proposal for the carve out is make this medication over the counter and free. The government will ship it to you no questions asked as long as you are 18+ and a legal resident of the US.

[Anonymous]

My question is will a government grocery store equivalent of public school lunches and breakfasts?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How did we go from about 15% obesity in 1970 to what we have now? Anybody care?

Much greater access to fast food and processed food and sedentary lifestyles.

Food supply, Food Supply, Food Supply

+

More discretionary income equals more sedentary lifestyle + better tv + video games. I’m guessing more people in the US today pay others to the lawn/garden work and clean the house than they did in the 1970s.

[Anonymous]

Meanwhile I still have to wonder, do Republicans genuinely think their ideas about healthcare make any sense at all?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why? Because people need access to basic healthcare, and because treatments like this need to be monitored. So carving out this one medication means that those privileged enough to already have healthcare will have access to it, while those who won’t have access to healthcare, let alone consistent healthcare, still won’t have access to this particular class of medications — no matter how wonderful they might be.

I’m much more concerned about universal healthcare access for everyone than I am about this particular carve-out.

My proposal for the carve out is make this medication over the counter and free. The government will ship it to you no questions asked as long as you are 18+ and a legal resident of the US.

So, how does your proposal handle serious negative side effects like bowel obstructions, kidney problems, and pancreatitis? Oh, and possibly risks of anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts and suicidal behavior. Nice that it’s free. Again — potentially very problematic for people without access to actual healthcare. Who’s legally responsible when the serious medical problems pop up — and people die?— Including people that never would have been prescribed medications like this if there were competent medical oversight? “The government” that you want to ship medications “no questions asked”? Should we just tell people it was your neat idea?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Meanwhile I still have to wonder, do Republicans genuinely think their ideas about healthcare make any sense at all?

No. “Making sense” is for the “woke”.
I guess when all of those people working for Walmart whose healthcare has been provided by taxpayers via Medicaid can’t work anymore, they’ll just shove them aside and find more people?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are there no politicians campaigning on free Ozempic for everyone? Literally, 70% of the country is overweight and most people cannot afford to buy GLP-1 weight loss drugs. Ozempic only costs around $5 to produce a month worth of medication. It would cost the US government around 16 billion dollars/year to provide every adult Ozempic. Just make the drug OTC and provide it for free to every adult in the US who can provide their SSN to verify identity. This drug reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes by almost 20%, likely reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s, lowers risk of cancer and reduces all cause mortality by 10-12%. It makes absolutely no sense that we are not providing it for free to every adult that wants to take it. This policy would save US taxpayers money, while boosting US life expectancy and enhancing quality of life. Any politician who campaigned on free Ozempic would likely win in a landslide and there are many voters that would support the politician solely because they want free weight loss medication.

OTC is ridiculous.

Increased risk of stomach problems, arthritis, kidney stones
On the reverse side, researchers found GLP-1 use was associated with an increased risk of gastrointestinal problems, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and, in rare cases, paralysis of the stomach.

Scientists also found a link between GLP-1 use and an increased risk of arthritic disorders, pancreatitis, sleep disturbances, hypotension, and nephrolithiasis, normally known as kidney stones.

“We think this is important — people taking GLP-1s and doctors prescribing them should be on the lookout for these side effects. Some can be quite serious and land people in the hospital,” Al-Aly said.

[Anonymous]

In someone on a GLP1. OP is onto something but it can’t ever be OTC. DH and I both take a different brand for medical reasons, insurance covered after years of weight issues and several other health problems. Yes, we tired to lose weight for years. We only did this after other major health concerns.

We have regular doctor visits. I also see a nutritionist. It isn’t just stick a shot in us and we lose weight. We have had different side effects.

But it has been life changing. And I can see how it could help with other addictions since I used to drink so much coffee and can barely drink 2 small cups now.

[Anonymous]

Instead of handing out a new medication with potentially serious side effects (why is the anti-vax crowd perfectly fine with this?), what if we stopped adding high fructose corn syrup and preservatives and dyes to everything, and stopped engineering junk food to be addictive?

[Anonymous]

No sorry, we're too busy sending aid to Israel to help subsidize their free healthcare to care about our own citizens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How did we go from about 15% obesity in 1970 to what we have now? Anybody care?

Much greater access to fast food and processed food and sedentary lifestyles.

Food supply, Food Supply, Food Supply

+

More discretionary income equals more sedentary lifestyle + better tv + video games. I’m guessing more people in the US today pay others to the lawn/garden work and clean the house than they did in the 1970s.

I think obesity rates are higher for poorer populations, so I don't think it's due to wealth and being able to pay others to do those chores. Wealthier Americans are healthier.