I'm an interested bystander to this obesity drug mania currently happening but I'm curious as to whether the folks taking this for obesity or being overweight have to take it for the rest of their lives?
I.e. if an obese person gets skinny with Ozempic and then stops taking it, can they keep the weight off?
If not, it seems like the "perfect" money-making drug, i.e. it doesn't cure anything permanently, its expensive, and patients have to take it until they die.
Now sure, it's obviously better than being obese and unhealthy, but does it bother anyone else (in a philosophical kind of way), that we are treating the symptoms and not the causes here? We're teaching people that everything can be solved by popping more pills and not treating the psychological issues that result in so much obesity. It also doesn't result in anyone learning any good lesson, e.g. that working gets results. In this case the lesson is, my bad decisions or mental health don't matter, I can just pop pills for all my problems...
They can keep it off if they keep eating like they’re on it.
Most can’t do that or they wouldn’t have needed it in the first place.
My understanding is that many do well on a much-reduced dose once reaching their desired weight, or simply stop the drug but then return to it for a couple months if they backslide.
[edit] nb a fair number can do pretty well without it, though, as they find it easier to stay motivated to maintain a good weight than to overcome the intertia and slooooow results of losing weight from an already-very-unhealthy weight. Doesn’t hurt that working out is a hell of a lot easier and more enjoyable when you’re already a healthy weight. Seems those who’ve in the past successfully put in effort to hold a healthy weight for a good amount of time but then eventually gained a bunch, have an easier time keeping their healthier weight for quite a while once off the drugs.
It seems to depend on the person. If they use it like a 'miracle drug' then they'll tend to have relapse on cessation. If they use it as an opportunity to build new, healthy habits they have a better chance. No doubt underlying biology plays a role too, after all some people are overweight because they found themselves in a rut, and other are overweight because they're constantly hungry. Those latter people tend to relapse.
I'm also be interested in how this can affect a change of gut biome. Ie if a biome is partly responsible for diet cravings, would something like this help you restart your biome and put you in a better position to maintain?
I suppose it could? The issue is that people can conceivably just eat small portions of unhealthy foods. It would certainly be a boost if they were willing to make an effort though, get some serious fiber in there, find a good yogurt, that sort of thing.
Then again I once knew someone who went through the pain and cost of a gastric bypass, which she then ironically bypassed by drinking melted ice cream. It all comes down to the patient.
> Now sure, it's obviously better than being obese and unhealthy, but does it bother anyone else (in a philosophical kind of way), that we are treating the symptoms and not the causes here?
I agree with everything you said, but what is the cause of obesity? It's convenience, abundance, corporations, and being sedentary. All of which are where most societies continue to move toward.
Have you tried exercising when you're fat? I've gained 20 lbs in the past year and, while I used to love playing tennis twice a week, now even walking is a chore.
This thread is full of people that think that fat people are only fat because it didn't occur to them to be thin.
Then take the pill. Oh it had serious side effects? Take another pill for every single one of them. Oh they both have side effects? Well, take anoth...
I.e. if an obese person gets skinny with Ozempic and then stops taking it, can they keep the weight off?
If not, it seems like the "perfect" money-making drug, i.e. it doesn't cure anything permanently, its expensive, and patients have to take it until they die.
Now sure, it's obviously better than being obese and unhealthy, but does it bother anyone else (in a philosophical kind of way), that we are treating the symptoms and not the causes here? We're teaching people that everything can be solved by popping more pills and not treating the psychological issues that result in so much obesity. It also doesn't result in anyone learning any good lesson, e.g. that working gets results. In this case the lesson is, my bad decisions or mental health don't matter, I can just pop pills for all my problems...