Reply to Excellent NYT piece about shaming people to take Ozempic, etc for weight loss

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]We will remain a deeply troubled society as long as we deny science and assert that ‘willpower’ and ‘character’ are actual things that are stronger than intricately evolved hormones functioning in a biological being.

Nova on PBS just did a couple of episodes on neuroscience called Your Brain. They are designed for non scientists to grasp and reveal the complexities of the human brain and the reality that so much of what we think we are is just not true.

The obesity epidemic is a biological response to a broken food system that is entirely predictable given what we already know about how the human body works, including the brain and gut. Thin people are accidents of genetics and quite often not healthy - weight is not determinative of health, all the research bears that out.

Folks here who settle on an attitude of superiority because they haven’t fallen victim to the obesity epidemic are just proving how ignorant they are of science and when they argue at the science they just prove that they are willfully ignorant which is about the worst ‘character’ a person can develop in life. [/quote]

I have not fallen victim to the "obesity epidemic" because whenever I have gained 10-15 lbs, I step back, change my diet and exercise more.  I realize it is much easier to control at only 10lb+ than at 50lbs.  There is no magic drug for weight loss.  People can use it in conjunction with diet, but diet and exercise must be a part of a long term plan.  Follow a diabetic diet and most will loose weight.  Watch your carbs, and even then make the carbs you do eat be "healthy carbs"---so sweet potatoes and other starchy veggies and fruits....mostly eliminate breads, sweets, worthless carbs and calories from your diet and you will be healthier and loose some weight.  We should be eating plates filled with low carb veggies, a few fruits and starchy veggies (not white potatoes) and good quality protein.  Do that for 2-3 months along with some exercise and most will loose weight and be healthier.

It's very similar to ADHD medication---imo, nobody should just take the medication without therapy in conjunction.  Yes, kids and adults benefit from the drugs, but they will do much better if they have therapy along with it to help them learn how to deal with it.  Similar to diabetics---don't just give them medications, but also give them diet/nutrition counseling and help them make those changes.  Medications alone will not solve these issues, they need to be used along with therapies, dietary changes, exercise, etc.  We as a society have forgotten that, and many just want a quick fix...
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Whether you realize it or not you sound a little smug in your post.  Sort of “look at me, I always did everything right and lost 10-15 lbs so if you didn’t do that it is all your moral failing.  Too bad you can’t be like me.”  The way you said to follow “a diabetic diet” makes me wonder if you understand that there are different types of Diabetes or if you think Diabetes is all just life style related.   No matter how much diet and nutrition counseling my Type 1 relatives do, their pancreas is not just going to start making insulin again.  Insulin is life support for them.  Also, despite working hard to maintain control over their blood sugar, hormones, the heat, unexpected changes to a routine, illness, can all lead to low blood sugar which requires them to drink or eat rapid acting glucose like juice or smarties candies.

Do you have ADHD?  Because I do and wasn’t diagnosed with it until my 50’s.  I went to counselors over the years.  All misdiagnosed me with “generalized anxiety disorder” which I didn’t have.  My brain is just always working at 100 percent.  I have never taken ADHD medication or any medication for anxiety or depression.  Instead I worked harder than most people in order to live in a world where linear nonADHD people make most of the rules.  It is f*** exhausting and draining sometimes and doesn’t lend itself to many dopamine inducing moments.  I am still managing my ADHD on my own because it is so hard to get in to see a counselor or doctor for it.  You act like getting medication or counseling is easy.  It’s not.  There are waiting lists to see people, insurance doesn’t necessarily cover it, and it is really expensive.  I don’t think it is any easier for weight loss.

My ADHD is a biological condition not a character or moral condition and for decades I’ve listened to some nonADHD individuals say all sorts of judgmental things about kids and adults with ADHD along the lines of “what’s wrong with them, they should do this like me or my way.”  I am sick of it. People are different.  Our genes are different. Our body chemistry is different. Some of us are more different than others.  We are not all round pegs that can be put in a round hole.  We have many different shapes with lots of different angles.  Are some people using Ozempic as an easy way to weight loss?  Probably (especially public figures and celebrities).  Are a lot of people in need of help losing weight because losing the traditional way is much, much harder for them than for you?  Yes. A thousand times yes and if it will help them avoid adverse health outcomes from weight gain that is probably a good thing. [/quote]

All of this, yes.[/quote]

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