[Misc] Weight loss jabs - Mounjaro, Wegovy etc.

[Weststander]

Depends which expert you listen to! The default position was previously that you get down to your target weight having somehow reprogrammed yourself and then stop taking MJ. The problem with this is that this often doesn't work, and a lot of people found that old issues, behaviours, eating disorders returned, and they put weight back on. More recently the talk has been to reach your target weight and then titrate back down the doses to a 'maintenance level' which seems to have been a more successful approach so far. It's noticeable that among some providers, there's been more messaging recently about providing maintenance doses, unlike how things were just a few months ago. That's certainly my plan at the moment.

But quite honestly, there is no simple answer. We are still learning. Trouble is, everyone is different. People have different needs, issues, physiologies, and so it's hard to state what a one-size-fits-all might be. I'm convinced that these treatments are here to stay and that in years to come they will be much more widely available in more convenient forms eg a monthly pill, and they'll be regarded as pretty normal.

If I'm honest, I doubt if I'll read the book. I wasn't aware of it but have just read a couple of unflattering reviews including this one in the Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/may/01/magic-pill-by-johann-hari-review-weighing-in

It was written a year ago which is a long time in GLP-1 history. It's about Ozempic (Semaglutide) rather than Mounjaro (Tirzepatide), and appears to be very anecdotal. I've arrived at my own views after 5 months' experience plus a huge amount of (also anecdotal) reading from users on Reddit, Facebook, even Mumsnet etc. That amounts to as much research as I plan to do. I don't think there's some hidden truth out there that only dubious journos like Hari is party to. What we don't know, I fully admit, is what the very long term impact of these treatments might be but if anything, the news is getting better rather than worse. Mounjaro is now being used to treat a range of conditions ranging from ADHD, addictive and obsessive behaviour, high blood pressure, even sleep apnea. Call me a naive old fool if you wish, I don't mind, but honestly, so far I think it's a great drug with incredible potential. BUT (important caveat), again, everyone is different. Some people get side effects while others experience no food suppression or reduced 'food noise' at all. Apparently 10 or 15% might be in this category. So it's not for everybody.

Whilst that’s unproven conjecture just now, going against the MHRA, what‘s not conjecture is that in the real world now a lot of folk have greatly reduced their odds of type 2 diabetes, some cancers, chronic inflammation and its many consequences, heart disease, chronic pancreatic issues.

 

[Mr Banana]

Sorry if this has been covered - I'm not bright enough to work out if there's a search function on threads - but these jabs aren't even viable as a last resort.

They cause muscle wastage, which is way riskier down the line and harder to resolve, especially as you get older, than the issues they are supposed to help with.

Hari is also a plagiarising chancer, unfortunately.

 

[Professor Plum]

Sorry if this has been covered - I'm not bright enough to work out if there's a search function on threads - but these jabs aren't even viable as a last resort.

They cause muscle wastage, which is way riskier down the line and harder to resolve, especially as you get older, than the issues they are supposed to help with.

Hari is also a plagiarising chancer, unfortunately.

The jabs don’t cause muscle wastage per se. Weight loss can indeed weaken muscles, regardless of how the weight is lost. The instructions issued with Mounjaro point this out and make it clear that users should increase exercise and do strength training to compensate. I’m not aware of losing muscle myself as my rate of loss is deliberately slow and steady but I have been doing some strength training and running as it happens, and my rowing machine keeps looking at me longingly. If you use MJ or similar, you have to do so responsibly and with a plan. It’s certainly not a ‘magic pill’, to use Hari’s ironic book title.

 

[Mr Banana]

The jabs don’t cause muscle wastage per se.

They do

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

Sorry if this has been covered - I'm not bright enough to work out if there's a search function on threads - but these jabs aren't even viable as a last resort.

They cause muscle wastage, which is way riskier down the line and harder to resolve, especially as you get older, than the issues they are supposed to help with.

Hari is also a plagiarising chancer, unfortunately.

Interesting. Say more.

 

[Solid at the back]

They do

Doesn't any weight loss cause a loss in muscle mass? To prevent that you'd need to do strength training, or even take creatine monohydrate?

 

[Professor Plum]

Doesn't any weight loss cause a loss in muscle mass? To prevent that you'd need to do strength training, or even take creatine monohydrate?

Strength training + additional protein intake. Usual recommended protein level is 1g per kg of body weight which is quite hard to do without protein shakes and the like. Steak and chicken breast are good sources too.

There are so many contradictory studies on this sort of thing, often with small numbers of participants, that you can always find one to back up your position (applies to me too). The uncontested fact is that any sort of sharp weight loss comes from fat loss and muscle loss. MJ and other GLP1 inhibitor treatments included. So with any weight loss regime it’s always recommended to exercise more and up the protein.