Forget Universal Healthcare: Start with Universal Ozempic

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

RFK is crazy which is unfortunate because his saner ideas get lost in the crazy.

[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.

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

So how do you explain all the families (like mine) who still eat processed food and HFCS and Chick Fil A and Five Guys and are still thin? We also eat at home a lot but rely on seasoning packets and store bought marinades and Rice-a-roni and boxed brownie mix and breakfast cereals and so on.

It’s because we eat reasonable portions and are active. Not gym rats, but just active (dog walks and house cleaning and chasing kids at playgrounds, etc.) Maybe the processed foods will get us in the end with disease - TBD - but they aren’t making us fat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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

So how do you explain all the families (like mine) who still eat processed food and HFCS and Chick Fil A and Five Guys and are still thin? We also eat at home a lot but rely on seasoning packets and store bought marinades and Rice-a-roni and boxed brownie mix and breakfast cereals and so on.

It’s because we eat reasonable portions and are active. Not gym rats, but just active (dog walks and house cleaning and chasing kids at playgrounds, etc.) Maybe the processed foods will get us in the end with disease - TBD - but they aren’t making us fat.

Genetics are also a factor.

[Anonymous]

Oh right - genetics has changed in the last 25 years.

[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.

This would also have a dramatic effect on the dating market. Right now 80% of the people are trying to date 20% of the people in both directions. What if everyone, male and female, were fit? Would that make a lot more eligible people?

[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.

People just don't care anymore. Do whatever feels good. There is less scrutiny regarding looks coupled with out of control eating. They don't care to clean their houses anymore either. If they can't pay, it just doesn't get done. It's amazing how people live like this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh right - genetics has changed in the last 25 years.

Yes actually it has. There is a thread on the first page discussing this.

[Anonymous]

FWIW I try to stay a size 12 and used to be 100lbs heavier 10 years ago.

I am just not eligible for the "fat drugs" because I already have cancer and my focus is just staying alive.

If I start to lose weight without dieting, that's going to be a bad sign for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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

So how do you explain all the families (like mine) who still eat processed food and HFCS and Chick Fil A and Five Guys and are still thin? We also eat at home a lot but rely on seasoning packets and store bought marinades and Rice-a-roni and boxed brownie mix and breakfast cereals and so on.

It’s because we eat reasonable portions and are active. Not gym rats, but just active (dog walks and house cleaning and chasing kids at playgrounds, etc.) Maybe the processed foods will get us in the end with disease - TBD - but they aren’t making us fat.

If you are still chasing kids around a playground you are also still fairly young. For women in particular, age = weight gain. It’s just biology.

I had a robust appetite, was moderately active, walking and chasing kid around playground, hiking etc., and never had a weight problem. Until I reached my early 50s. I had the same levels of hunger but found I had to consume less than 1k cals to not gain weight. That’s difficult to maintain long term.

[Anonymous]

No, many women stayed thin into old age years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, many women stayed thin into old age years ago.

Not in my family they didn't. I have pictures dating back to the late 1800s. By the time they hit forty, they were very large women. Didn't help that they had kids until the hit menopause.

Also every woman in my family has a diagnosed thyroid problem, and with medication we are actually thinner than our female ancestors. Still fat, mind you, but thinner than the untreated women in the pictures.

[Anonymous]

Ok we're not talking about medical conditions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Agreed. I am in very early recovery after 20 years of dealing with anorexia nervosa and am therefore in the category of people who should never be given access to GLP-1s. I've accepted that these drugs are out of reach for me because no marginally sane doctor would give me a prescription with that diagnosis in my medical records; I can't be trusted with it. OTC access would be a disaster for all the undiagnosed out there.

[Anonymous]

No. I don't care to subsidized vanity, and those who need it for medical reasons can get it already for the most part.

I want to have affordable catastrophic care plan so that I don't have to dread 5-7 figure medical bills, especially in the event of developing some condition and being denied coverage and also unable to work to get employer sponsored plans. And I want medical providers to work on providing realistic prices where they still make profit but also make themselves accessible to cash patients (who would save for healthcare costs with pre-tax dollars via HSA).

Medicare for all is worth to explore with private insurance or cash HSA supplementing for certain treatments or faster access to certain services, specialists, out of network coverage etc.

I also don't believe it's a good idea to hand out drugs that don't have enough years of safety studies to general population. It should be something for people whose weight is a huge health risk already and they can take the risk of prolonged if not lifetime use.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Agreed. I am in very early recovery after 20 years of dealing with anorexia nervosa and am therefore in the category of people who should never be given access to GLP-1s. I've accepted that these drugs are out of reach for me because no marginally sane doctor would give me a prescription with that diagnosis in my medical records; I can't be trusted with it. OTC access would be a disaster for all the undiagnosed out there.

I’m glad you aren’t in recovery and wish you luck. Thank you for responding to my post. I want others to read how many on these drugs are actively working with nutritionists and doctors. At least they should be if they are going to any reputable doctor for a legit weight loss reason. These drugs can be dangerous, like any drug, if taken wrong.