Carl Heneghan and Tom Jefferson- Weight-Loss Drugs and the Quiet Medicalisation of Everyday Life
A profound shift in how society understands body weight is occuring. Excess weight is no longer seen as the predictable outcome of ultra-processed food, sedentary work, and inequality, but as a pharmacological deficit requiring lifelong correction.
A medication that must be taken indefinitely to maintain its effect is not a public-health triumph; it is a subscription model.
The ‘cure’ shouldn’t be never ending. What was the underlying cause? Address it for long term success.
“A medication that must be taken indefinitely to maintain its effect is not a public-health triumph:”
I call bullshit on that blanket statement, considering a lot of effective medications are taken indefinitely.
High-bloodpressure drugs and statins to name a couple. And, yes, I know some people have undesirable side affects from taking them. For example, statins caused frequent painful leg cramps during sleep so my doc switched me to another medication. Legs cramps gone.
L – The “medicalization” of being human ? This via an imposed a mandatory, renewable mandate, Does this violate medical ethics:
1. First, Do No Harm.
2. Is the cure worse than the disease?
3. Treat the sick(not the well).
4. Informed consent (relevant facts and options).
The street drug dealer, who turns people into addicts and exploits that into a renewable income stream, is regarded as a parasite and justifiably so. If a physician or pharmacist et al. does the same or not, whether by physical or psychological means, depends on medical ethics. The choice of succumbing to vice or remaining virtuous has always been a struggle. It’s harder for some, those with a conscience, than for those without one.
If questioning either leads to being accused of blasphemy. The white coat may cloak a devil rather than a Saint. Or uncover a guilty conscience.
losing weight.
in 2001 having zyprexa rammed down my throat (at the now smashed to the ground Hamilton Psych Hospital) i reached a personal high of 220.
when l escaped that scene from a horror movie, by 2025 i reached my ideal weight of 175. a loss of 45 pounds in 25 years.
how did l do it? l rear ended a minivan in my 2007 taurus, ready to get yanked off the road anyway, emissions stds. l then proceeded to bike everywhere. sadly ALL my bikes were STOLEN in that time, some 10 or 15.
scaREW fad diets, scaREW drugs, scaREW sugery etc etc. l WORKED OFF THE EXCESS WEIGHT emphasis on WORK
You can pay for and take these drugs, and risk all of the known and unknown side effects,
or
You can switch to a low-carb life.
I live on ribeye steaks, eggs, seafood, butter, cream, chicken, pork chops, pulled pork, tacos, vegies, etc. I eat until I’m full.
I don’t feel deprived, and I’m 70 pounds lighter than I was 8 years ago.
Low carb/ low lectin. Just cutting out sugar and “fast” carbs will actually make you feel a lot better and happy not eating them. However, the addiction is so strong it seems to be impossible for most people.
Anyone trying to lose weight, get “The Obesity Code” by Dr. Jason Fung. Diets restricting calories eventually fail and all the weight comes back. You have to lower your insulin levels, by what and/or when you eat.
Subscription model. Yeah, that’s no way to live life.
The one exception for me is: Lisinopril. I have congenital high blood pressure. I had it when I was an 18yo athlete in the best condition of my life. My one pill daily keeps my bp at dead-normal levels … something I could never diet or exercise my way to achieve. And I have Zero side effects from the medication. Yeah … it’s a subscription model … but at least I don’t have to take any other medications to counteract the medication. When you need to do that (as with all the GLP’s) … you should know that’s a problem.
It’s ridiculous. Instead of learning to focus, “grown ups” are turning to drugs.
Ontario Sees 157% Increase in People Starting ADHD Medications
https://link.theepochtimes.com/mkt_app/world/ontario-sees-157-increase-in-people-starting-adhd-medications-5958441?utm_medium=app&c=share_pos1&pid=iOS_app_share&utm_source=iOS_app_share
Ozempic and the like were originally intended for diabetics who for whatever reasons weren’t having success with other drugs on the market. A sort of a last ditch approach, especially since the side effects can be rather severe and treatment is then pretty much a lifetime commitment or at the very least are difficult to withdraw.
They do help some patients to lose some weight, but they aren’t miracle cures for obesity — the average is around 10% over time. At the end of the day, a sensible diet and exercise program is going to give you a better return, make you feel better, and without the nasty side effects (and no, this does not mean fad diets or the like).
Leave medications such as this to people who have no other choice.