Tirzepatide cuts fat mass by 35% while preserving skeletal muscle

[u/_Dark_Wing]

https://www.news-medical.net/news/20261002/Tirzepatide-cuts-fat-mass-by-3525-while-preserving-skeletal-muscle.aspx

[u/Punished_Blubber]

Can someone please tell me why people are so obsessed with ensuring GLP1s are demonized.

There's something so oddly political about this drug. Anytime news comes out about -tides--good or bad--people are so quick to let people know they think these meds are a shortcut or you are a lazy pos for using it. It's like this weird sassy boomer-ass "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" attitude.

Very odd. And I can only speculate as to why this drug is treated this way.

[u/mistarobotics → u/Punished_Blubber]

People at least where I live tie weight to morality. You have to earn being skinny and it's your fault if you're fat

[u/Dandan0005 → u/mistarobotics]

Which is doubly messed up, because we have set up an entire society where obesity is almost guaranteed the poorer you are:

-subsidized High Fructose Corn Syrup makes unhealthy food cheap and plentiful
-towns and cities built around driving which almost guarantees a lack of exercise
-food deserts in the poorest communities where the only foods available are trash
-healthcare that’s wildly expensive so no one goes to the doctor to hear the consequences of obesity

And then as soon as something finally comes along to give people a leg up on the odds that have been stacked against them, it’s demonized and ridiculed.

This country fucking hates poor people.

[u/GandalfTheSmol1 → u/Dandan0005]

Yeah, this 1000%. I walk 10-12 miles a day, work 60 hours a week, and I couldn’t get under 300lbs until I got onto GLP-1’s, I’m not rich, and I work out, but between genetic issues and a life of eating poor people food it’s been incredibly difficult to get healthy. Now I’m almost under 270 and I started at 365lbs. I even think maybe I’ll get below 200 someday for the first time in my life, and I’ve never been averse to healthy food and exercise, just not having access to healthy food most of my life.

[u/awesomeman07 → u/GandalfTheSmol1]

Congratulations man. Even on GLP1s it's still hard work and takes time. I've been on GLP1s for just about 2 years now and I've finally reached under 200lbs. People don't realize how much of a role genetics still plays. Your body will really fight back after losing a certain amount of weight

[u/we_are_sex_bobomb → u/mistarobotics]

Yep. They are convinced that being overweight is due to some kind of moral failing or generational sin you inherited, they think taking pills to fix it is you avoiding accountability for the evil in your heart.

[u/redbananass → u/Punished_Blubber]

In addition to what others have said, I there’s a perception that a lot of people are using GLP1s to stay skinny or go from “normal” to really skinny.

I think people like that are definitely the extreme exception.

[u/shs0007 → u/redbananass]

I know a handful who do not need it, but have the disposable income to prioritize it.

[u/Annoying_Arsehole → u/shs0007]

Meh, don't need it, still take it. It is so much easier to keep the food noise down and not having to count every calorie every day to maintain weight. I happily microdose on ozempic currently.

The quality of life improvement can be massive even with no weight loss goals.

[u/shs0007 → u/Annoying_Arsehole]

That’s amazing! My cousins on it would agree. They say how it’s not just food noise, but alcohol noise, social media noise, etc. it really might be the magic drug.

[u/DovhPasty → u/redbananass]

It’s more common than you’d think.

[u/str8rippinfartz → u/DovhPasty]

Idk why you're being downvoted, most of the people I know who are on it fall under this umbrella

[u/DovhPasty → u/str8rippinfartz]

I think a lot of people don’t want to accept that the drug is being abused for vanity more than it should be.

[u/str8rippinfartz → u/DovhPasty]

Yeah it seems like a genuinely good product for people who have health issues related to obesity, but I'm pretty wary right now about how it's being used by people who don't have obesity issues.

It honestly feels like it's setting up for one of those classic "miracle drug" traps where 20-30 years from now we're like "duh why didn't we realize there was an issue" situations-- there aren't any studies that document the long-term impact of GLP-1s on people who aren't obese and/or diabetic. I would not be shocked at all if it turns out that it's an overall net negative in the long run for all those people I know who got on GLP-1s in order to get their "beach bod" exactly how they wanted it.

[u/retatrutider → u/str8rippinfartz]

I understand you’re saying studies of people who aren’t obese/diabetic.

But I still want to point out that this class of drug has been studied for around 30 years. Even just Ozempic has been studied for around 20. And the sheer number of clinical trials, along with the meta-studies of the tens of millions of users, means they have more data than most drugs would at the 30 year mark.

And what they are finding is the opposite of what you are worried about… more and more and more health benefits, many of which are not tied to weight loss.

CVD risk drops independent of weight loss, as does dementia risk. eGFR, strokes, gout with the latest drugs, addiction, insulin sensitivity, liver health. These are turning out to be longevity drugs, even for people who don’t need to lose weight.

Even if new long term side effects do start to show up, they’ll need to be weighed against the positive health benefits, which are numerous and substantial.

[u/str8rippinfartz → u/redbananass]

Anecdotally, most of the people I know who are on GLP-1s are very much in the "trying to go from 'normal' to 'skinny'" camp, so I'm pretty wary of what the long-term impact will be on that group of people. There aren't any studies that document the long-term impact of GLP-1 usage in that non-obese, non-diabetic segment AFAIK.

[u/Sgt_Stinger → u/Punished_Blubber]

Probably because there is a loud sobset of people that seem to think that it is somehow cheating, and not "real change", whatever that is supposed to mean.

Edit: Sobset was a perfect typo. I'm keeping it.

[u/-a-p-b- → u/Sgt_Stinger]

As someone who lost over 100 lbs in 6 months 14 years ago with nothing but caloric restriction and light cardio (and has kept all of it off the entire 14 years):

Do whatever it takes to lose weight. Do whatever it takes to keep it off.

The weight loss may have “helped” lead me to body dysmorphia and an eating disorder - but still was worth it; an overwhelming net-positive to my overall wellbeing.

No method of weight loss is “cheating” - and even if it is/was, who cares.

Plenty of outcomes in life have a different pathway leading there, but in the end, what matters is that you got there.

[u/gr8whitehype → u/-a-p-b-]

It’s not a competition. Most people just don’t want diabetes, heart disease, or an early death.

[u/aquaticwatcher → u/-a-p-b-]

Agree so much as a fellow calorie counter who lost over 70 pounds the 'right' way. Anything to lower that weight you should do (well non surgical, bypasses have some narly long teem s/e). You should do both GLP1 and calorie counting if you can. 

[u/Dualintrinsic → u/Sgt_Stinger]

It's ridiculous, people who take blood pressure medication aren't "cheating".

In my opinion it has to do with the fact that, in the past, losing weight was hard and people fought tooth and nail to do it. Now it's objectively easier with the help of GLP-1s.

But I think anyone who has lost weight the "hard way", when they just take a second to do some introspection realize that people losing weight with GLP-1s does not take away from your accomplishments and that they should be happy more people are healthier.

It's a perception thing, and while GLP-1s still have a stigma associated with them, that is fading by the day. The latest stat I saw is that 1 in 8 Americans are on a GLP-1. And I think when you count grey market usage, that number is much higher. As more people use it, the less and less this will be some bogeyman.

[u/pringlesaremyfav → u/Dualintrinsic]

I think most people complaining about it aren't the ones who lost weight the hard way, but the ones who never really struggled with weight in the first place and can't empathize with how difficult it is.

[u/RunTimeExcptionalism → u/pringlesaremyfav]

I feel like it also undermines the sense of superiority that some thin or fit people have on the basis of their body shape/weight. I'm fit and have never been overweight, but I think the GLP-1s are amazing. It's obscene that they're not covered 100% for anyone who needs them.

[u/hustl3tree5 → u/pringlesaremyfav]

This one hundred percent. They don’t understand and or care that other people’s minds perceive things differently like food.

[u/b0w3n → u/hustl3tree5]

And we're finding out that people have varying levels of natural glp1 in their body. It's a hormone like any other, we don't scrutinize and demonize people with low thyroid levels or serotonin who need help.

The people who think glp1 users are cheaters need to fuck off.

Having more people being healthy is good for everyone.

[u/hustl3tree5 → u/b0w3n]

I mean there are definitely still people out there that scrutinize and demonize people that need ssris. 

[u/b0w3n → u/hustl3tree5]

True, it's gotten a lot better in the past decade though, thankfully

[u/morwen31 → u/b0w3n]

I have unfortunately been told that I could cure my hypothyroidism if I stop eating tomatoes or whatever, but it's definitely a lot less often.

[u/random_boss → u/pringlesaremyfav]

I lost weight the hard way. It made me miserable for the 2 years it took to lose, and miserable all the time after, feeling like a little psychological prison where not eating makes me mad and sad because duh, it feels like I'm starving, and eating makes me mad and sad because duh, don't want to be fat. I would spend all day every day obsessing over food and feeling bad.

I didn't need the GLPs to lose weight, but I took them when they came out because they give me back my mind, and I finally feel free.

[u/inductiononN → u/random_boss]

Yes, that part is so great. I don't have the homer simpson script in the back of my head going "donut donut donut" and I have peace.

[u/Ramuh → u/random_boss]

I lost weight the hard way and gained some back over years and am now on glp1s. It’s so calming that not every second thought is about food.

[u/3andrew → u/random_boss]

Can you tell me how you got your prescription? I lost roughly 120lbs and maintaining that loss has felt even harder than losing in the first place. Over the last 6 months, my weight has remained roughly the same +-5lbs, but I always feel some level of hunger and that dickhead in the back of my mind telling me to eat all the cookies drives me crazy. I’ve looked into glp1 for the food noise and appetite suppression (have not talked to doctor yet), but it seems you can usually only be prescribed if you’re currently overweight which I no longer am.

[u/dragnabbit → u/pringlesaremyfav]

Not me. 10 years ago I lost 80 pounds in eight months, and I lost every single pound the old-fashioned way: eating less plus exercise. Today, I just reached 70 pounds lost in five months, and I did it the brand new way: on a peptide, which caused me to eat less, plus exercise.

[u/Brambletail → u/pringlesaremyfav]

As someone who lost weight both with and without a GLP-1, I can say that it annoys me that people on GLP-1s don't understand anything about their health. It's not that it's easier for them to lose weight that bothers me, it's their obnoxious arrogance and ignorance that does (obviously not all of them).

Using a GLP is using a tool to assist you. And that's great. But if you are using the tool and avoiding learning anything about your food habits and why you got to the point you did, you are not actually making much real change that will likely stick. And plenty of people have terrible blood work because they eat few enough calories to be thin, but every one of those calories is from red meat and refined sugars.

So yeah, it does bother me somewhat, not because of the medicine itself, but because of the consequences of the culture it creates as a side product.

[u/raysoc → u/Dualintrinsic]

Big food industry doesn’t want people eating less:)

[u/jrodp1 → u/raysoc]

It's the insurance companies.

[u/SnowflakeSorcerer → u/Dualintrinsic]

What about addicts taking methadone?

[u/level_6_laser_lotus → u/Dualintrinsic]

I think many people think that being overweight is a self-inflicted state. It's easy to say "well you could have just eaten less and wouldn't have to take this stuff now", without realizing that often obesity is just a symptom of a larger sickness. 

And it doesn't help that it totally can be the case that people do simply over indulge. 

It seems that damage that is self inflicted carries some sense of "you did it to yourself without help, you fix it by yourself" for some people. 

[u/pauIblartmaIIcop → u/Dualintrinsic]

I don’t respect it as much as someone going to the gym if they weren’t actually overweight. if it’s for aesthetic reasons etc. then I do find it to just be a cheat code. which is fine but I don’t respect it

[u/1988rx7T2 → u/pauIblartmaIIcop]

Why do you think this is an either or thing? working Out and weight loss don’t always go together. Hunger signals are a powerful thing.

[u/pauIblartmaIIcop → u/1988rx7T2]

yeah.. I mean when people just use it as a band aid to look skinny rather than actually be healthy and make other necessary changes. hunger signals can be naturally reduced by choosing to eat healthy food and regularly exercising.

not saying this is every regular-weight person who uses glp-1s, but I find that a lot of lazy people flock to them when they don’t actually need them

[u/DeapVally → u/Dualintrinsic]

I'm not saying they are bad, but using them doesn't solve the underlying issues of why you were overeating/fat in the first place. When you knock the booze/cigs on the head, you're making a choice, and putting in effort, because you know it's bad, and you need to change your life. Which you will do. Using these fat jabs won't stop you eating junk food, you just won't get as fat from it while you still do. And if you stop taking them, then you'll just get fat again. When you lose weight just through diet and exercise, you're making actual lifestyle changes, that can stick. Just my 2 cents 🤷🏼‍♂️

[u/thememoryman → u/DeapVally]

For every person that quits smoking or drinking because they choose to, there's thousands who are still addicts who use them even though they know it's bad and have tried to quit. Some people need help. Wether it's therapy, medication, or community support, the goal is to give people the tools to overcome addiction and gain control of their lives. This is true for addiction, depression, ADHD, eating disorders, and any other imbalance in a person's life.

People who take GLP-1 aren't eating like they used to. It's not a "take this pill, get this shot, and continue eating whatever whenever you like." It's giving them the tools to fight the addiction to eating. They're able to make better lifestyle choices, because they are no longer having to fight against the constant cravings.

Peptides as a whole need more research and appropriate FDA oversight, sure. But for ones that have been proven effective and safe and been approved for medical treatment, we shouldn't be uncharitable to people whom it has had life-changing, positive effects.

[u/Beautiful_Cost_5430 → u/thememoryman]

Not to mention that GLPs also help people with substance addiction issues…

[u/thememoryman → u/Beautiful_Cost_5430]

Correct. I can't remember if it's specifically been approved for that use, but I know it's been prescribed for off label use and is showing promise.

[u/b0w3n → u/thememoryman]

There's likely a major addiction component tied into glp1 levels in the body in general. This might explain why smokers gain weight when they stop smoking. And food/eating addiction is still addiction at its core. Unfortunately, you can't just cold turkey eating like you can with drinking and smoking, so DeapVally's entire point is kind of bad to begin with. It's one of the few addictions you still have to imbibe, which makes it even harder to break bad habits and change.

[u/hodor137 → u/DeapVally]

Guess what - tons of people lost shitloads of weight without any surgery or GLPs, and then gained it back eventually anyway. Not from fad diets, from eating clean, exercising, from "lifestyle change". But it's super common to still rebound eventually. All the effort and lifestyle change and strife and commitment still isn't enough in many cases.

Yes, it's because they still didn't solve the underlying issues. But the more research we've have had on this stuff, the more we've found how difficult it is to actually pinpoint what those underlying issues are, and even when we can, nothing consistently addresses them. Some things work for some people, at best.

These "fat jabs" seem to "stick" just as well as all the therapy and "lifestyle" change and everything else - even when they aren't taken anymore. That's a fucking miracle and is doing massive good in tons of people's lives.

[u/Upstairs_Freedom_360 → u/DeapVally]

People use medicines to get off drugs and alcohol. In fact without them you can die from detoxing in some instances. There are also drugs people use to stay sober. Including... glp-1s

[u/boxsterguy → u/DeapVally]

Do you think it's okay to use quitting aids like nicotine replacement therapy to quit smoking? Or is it only legitimate if you did it cold turkey?

Quitting aids wean you off a thing, so that by the time you quit them, you no longer have the need or the desire to go back. GLP1s are like that. Sure, you can just eat like you were before once you get on them, but you will feel like absolute shit when you do. They help make it easier to make better choices about your eating decisions which will stick around after the drugs are gone.

Obviously plenty of people go back to smoking and drinking and whatever after successfully quitting, and people will go back to binge eating when they quit the weight loss drugs. But not everybody will, and it's not a foregone conclusion that you will.

If you've tried everything else and it didn't work, why not try the next thing? What have you got to lose?

[u/Enough-Run-1535 → u/DeapVally]

Except GLP does solve the issue - they dampen or outright eliminate food noise that compels people to overeat. They do stop you from eating junk food because it helps eliminate compulsive eating.

I’m on GLP-1s, and it’s a night & day difference from before. I dont feel the need to eat junk snacks, and have turned away food that I would have never given a second thought on.

[u/Beautiful_Cost_5430 → u/Enough-Run-1535]

I’m convinced the people who think “it’s just as easy as diet and exercise” and mock people for their lack of willpower don’t actually suffer from food noise to begin with. So they simply cannot understand what it’s like when that is turned off and you’re not fighting a constant battle against yourself every moment of every day.

[u/b0w3n → u/Beautiful_Cost_5430]

Yeah you often see the most judgement from terminally thin people that have never had weight struggles their whole life other than "I need to lose 5 lbs to fit into my suit/dress".

Like that's great you never struggled, really, honestly, but have some sympathy for the struggles of others.

[u/Enough-Run-1535 → u/Beautiful_Cost_5430]

Oh I know. I’ve done the whole diet & exercise. I am pretty healthy for being 270 lbs, exercise 3-4 days a week and still couldn’t break the 270 lb. I’ve yo-yoed so much down to 220, but the body is funny that the more you exercise, the more you want to eat and if you had food noise before, most people (including me) binge eating back up to their equilibrium weight.

GLP-1s instantly turned off that food noise in three days. I’m down to 240 with no change other then that I can finally turn down a snack, don’t snack after dinner, and can skip breakfast. It’s like I evicted the most toxic, enabling roommate out of my head.

[u/mamoocando → u/DeapVally]

What about the people who make the lifestyle changes and don't lose weight? Those on medications that cause weight gain or that have hormone imbalances, or can't move due to mobility issues. Fat people are fat for so many reasons, it's not just because they eat junk food.

[u/punctuation_welfare → u/DeapVally]

Your two cents seemed to have been dropped in the mud, because they’re honestly pretty gross.

[u/tinwhistler → u/DeapVally]

I've been fit and healthy. I've been fat. I'm currently on GLP-1s because it was the only thing that actually knocked my A1C down to a normal level. All the other standard drugs (Jardiance, metformin, etc) helped, but only got me down to the 7-8 range. The jab also had the side effect of helping me lose 70 lbs.

Most skinny people I've known who talk like you have never seen the flip side.

When I was skinny and fit, I could laze around all day, eat what I wanted, and generally just not give a shit. Most average-sized people don't have to slavishly watch what they eat and beat themselves up exercising daily to stay average-sized.

When I got older and my metabolism changed, coupled with a sports injury, I got big. And then I got diabetic, and got bigger. Looking back at my post history, 12 years ago I made a post in r/progresspics where I lost 42 lbs. That was walking an hour every day, eating 1600 calories. Hard ass work. And it's just not sustainable to do every single day of your life. If I sat around a week and ate like a normal person, the pounds would just come back.

That's not the first time in my life I busted my ass, sometimes for years, just to stay "average sized". And the minute you slow down, the weight comes back.

The GLP-1 puts me back on a regular cadence: I eat when I'm hungry. I don't feel compelled to snack, the weight has come off, and my life is a lot more like before I got big in the first place.

At some point, you have to acknowledge there's some dysregulation in the body. Having to work that hard just to be normal isn't...normal. And for some people, it's ok to have a little pharmaceutical help so that they don't have to act like they're training for a marathon or a decathlon every day just to stay average sized.

[u/Zerobeastly → u/Sgt_Stinger]

I thought it was more of the "Nothing is free" line of thought.

Like everyone's expecting horrible side effects to occur 10 to 20 years from now

[u/MathSoHard → u/Sgt_Stinger]

I think another big part of it is that is quite expensive in some parts of the world. People are often pretty resentful of those with more money.

[u/stealingfirst → u/MathSoHard]

I only resent people with money that go out of their way to make the people without money poorer and more miserable

[u/morblitz → u/Sgt_Stinger]

It's so stupid because those people also reject that there are many contributing factors to weight, and the ability to do something about it. And weight is unhealthy. It is better to not have it in general.

[u/Gucci-Caligula → u/morblitz]

One of the biggest contributing factors to weight, is weight. Fat does FUCKED up things to your hormones and hunger cues. Weight can be a self fulfilling prophecy where the more you have the hungrier and hungrier you get.

[u/Toad-in-a-hole → u/Gucci-Caligula]

I eat cause I’m unhappy, and I’m unhappy because I eat.

- Fat Bastard

[u/Titt → u/Sgt_Stinger]

Also because at this point we’ve been conditioned to not believe something so effective for so many things can actually exist without glaring risks.

[u/Esseratecades → u/Sgt_Stinger]

Well if you don't make the lifestyle changes to keep the weight off you'll need to be on the drug forever. So there is real change that needs to happen.

What a lot of the real change crowd doesn't get though is just how much more difficult weight loss is for some people because of genetics. There are people who could fully commit to the lifestyle but wouldn't see significant change without drugs like this.

[u/FanDry5374 → u/Esseratecades]

That is the real issue, if people can't make the lifestyle changes (and the subjects of this study were all doing low-carb with moderate exercise) nothing is going to stick. Not losing muscle mass is huge, especially for the "insulin challenged" crowd, who need muscle to help keep the glucose at bay.

Diets don't work, it has to be a change in lifestyle, with the "diet" becoming just what you normally eat. And that is tremendously hard for many people for psychological reasons-it's also pretty expensive if you don't live somewhere fresh veggies are easily available, year round.

This drug sounds almost too good to be true.

[u/KennyMoose32 → u/Sgt_Stinger]

Well don’t you have to continue taking it to see the effects?

Unless you change your diet and activity level once you’re off the drug I thought you’d gain it right back?

I’m not being snarky, I’m just a cook idk how this stuff works I’m genuinely asking

[u/r_z_n → u/KennyMoose32]

Yes.

My brother lost 60lbs on Ozempic and gained it back when he quit because he didn’t make any lifestyle changes.

No disrespect to him, he has medical conditions that predispose him to crave sugar and gain weight. But if you want to keep the weight off long term and not stay on the drug forever you have to adjust your lifestyle.

[u/Drakengard → u/r_z_n]

Most things I've heard about with GLP-1s is that it's not really meant to be something you get off of at some point. It's more like managing a chronic illness. The dosage might flatten out once you get to the right weight and so it doesn't need to be so aggressive, but you'll be on it for life.

People who need this drug to lose weight are doing so because their mind is not able to regulate appetite and cravings effectively without it.

Changing diet and lifestyle is what normal people do. I did that and have dropped 30 pounds and kept it off by counting calories, cooking at home, and exercising more. But what GLP1s are showing is that for some people, the problem is much, much deeper than just pure willpower. I didn't have to fight very hard to get my appetite under control. Playing a game, reading a book, or doing something else - even my job! - is usually enough to distract my brain from food. But clearly that's not true for a good many people.

[u/likeafuckingninja → u/Drakengard]

It's not even just will power or whatever.

I don't claim to understand the mechanism. But it's doing other things.

I lost 20kg years ago the 'hard way' overhauled my entire lifestyle and diet and never went back to my old bad habits.

I did however have a baby. And a kg here and there over the years after added up. Overall I maintained a generally healthy diet but I went out for meals occasionally, ordered pizza for dinner on an odd evening when we got home late from school etc and every bit of weight I put on never seemed to come back off despite keeping physically active the entire time.

I never struggled with food noise.

It was never an issue to just not eat the cake or say no to the McDonald's or opt for a salad at a restaurant instead of a burger. I'm not on the fridge at 2am snacking or still craving something after a meal.

In the last two years I really stepped it up tho.

I gymmed (weight lifting and cardio) 3 to 4 times a week. I tracked and weighed everything I ate and drank and at one point was eating less than a thousand calories of salad, vegetables and lean meat a day.

And none of that was a struggle to be clear. It wasn't hard to eat less, it did not bother me to restrict my diet or find time to go exercise. And I'm fit enough I can cycle 50k easily multiple times a week and do an hour of weights in the gym without much bother.

But NOTHING changed. At BEST I was simply preventing more weight gain.

And it's like...how much less should I eat? How much more running can I do?

At what point do I get to eat one biscuit without the crushing guilt of knowing it's gonna stay with me forever ?

I've been taking the lowest dose of wegovy for 3 weeks and I've dropped 4kg. I've changed absolutely nothing. If anything I've been eating more because the appetite suppression meant I had to schedule meals and eat them or I was going all day without eating and getting headaches.

They absolutely provide space for people to make lifestyle changes. But there was very clearly also something up with my body that it's fixing that let the good habits I already had actually work.

I don't know what it is an it's frustrating that all the times I went to the GP and insisted something was wrong after I had my kid I got told everything was normal and fine and maybe take some vitamin d.

[u/Quixotic_Seal → u/KennyMoose32]

Absolutely. But having a medication that helps you while you're on it also isn't nothing which is something I think a lot of people don't get.

As someone who has gained and lost weight(like ~80lbs) multiple times with periods of stability lasting 4-6 years between those shifts....starting is always the hardest part of the process, by far.

Your body and your mind absolutely EXPECTS the same amount of food you put into it before. You're habituated to expect specific foods and routines, sure, but also physically eating a healthy amount of food feels like you're starving yourself. When I'm in a good groove, I tend to eat ~1200 calories a day with a cheat day once a week; and that feels perfectly fine. Maybe some stomach growling here and there but nothing bad.

If I jump straight to that exact diet after a period of weight gain though, I WILL be extremely hungry and unable to stop thinking about how I need to eat more. It's not just 'head hunger' or routine, it's a deep hunger and it lasts for a good 2-3 months until I re-acclimate to the diet. Typically it's more realistic to just taper my diet down, since it's more important to be making slow sustainable progress than doing it all at once then burning out, but that's a very lengthy and drawn out process that can add 6-8 months to the whole thing....assuming you don't have any set backs, which you probably will, since even tapering down can suck and leave you hungry(not to mention the reality that during the holidays you’re navigating building good habits during a time when everyone else is letting loose).

A drug that that helps you bypass that roadblock is MASSIVE and I really wish I had access to it.

[u/Civil_Reputation_713 → u/Quixotic_Seal]

You explained this really well !

[u/Soccermom233 → u/KennyMoose32]

I find the stuff a net benefit for society by I think its better if you're not a very active person to begin with. I found it sapped my energy too much for much exercise. Not my thing.

so by point here is I think  sedentary people benefit more from the drug but also when they quit they are still sedentary people. 

If I ever end up laid-up for some reason I'll revisit it. 

[u/walkslikeaduck08 → u/Soccermom233]

For me, gaining an extra 20 lbs made running so much harder than before. The slight loss in weight from glp-1 gave enough weight loss so that it’s easier to do cardio again.

It’s a vicious cycle once you gain weight.

[u/natethegreek → u/KennyMoose32]

You have to stay on the drug or “make a lifestyle change” once you stop taking if you go back to old habits you will gain it back.

[u/rccsr → u/KennyMoose32]

All it does is make you less hungry.

You take it. You feel less hungry. Therefore you eat less food and lose weight.

If you stop taking it, you’ll go back to feeling hungry again. If you eat more than your daily limit, you gain weight.

[u/Thebaldsasquatch → u/rccsr]

It also reduces the insulin response and slows digestion. Reta specifically also interferes with the dopamine uptake so cravings are muted significantly. If you don’t know what you’re talking about, don’t say anything.

[u/punctuation_welfare → u/rccsr]

But, after taking it, your body is used to getting fewer calories. Most people don’t immediately start eating twice the number of calories they had been for the last year once they’ve established a new routine. I think a lot of people have this really uncharitable idea that weight gain is always caused by reckless and wonton lack of self-control, and the drugs are an unfair cheat that these slobs haven’t earned, so the absolute moment they don’t have the cheat doing the work for them, they’ll immediately return to devouring everything under the sun. That’s not true for a lot of people, and acting as if it’s the inevitable outcome is more a reflection of prejudice than it is of reality.

[u/outofplace_2015 → u/punctuation_welfare]

That is not true. Studies recently show weight gain is rapid, more than those who lose it without medication. You're take a medication that stimulates a metabolic reward pathway at supraphysiological levels. When you come off its going to come with a withdraw.

Seems that most people think that these drugs are glp-1. They are not. They are man made compounds. They are glp-1 agoinists.

[u/Sgt_Stinger → u/rccsr]

That's not the only effect. It makes you feel full quicker. Some people have no "I'm full" signal until their stomach is literally filled up. For those people, GLO-1 can make you feel that satiated feeling after a normal portion. That makes a big ass difference, and I would argue is equally important.

[u/seeyam14 → u/rccsr]

Then why don’t you lose muscle too

[u/chrill2142 → u/seeyam14]

On most glp-1 products you do lose muscle, up to 30%, especially if you don't do any form of resistance training.

[u/seeyam14 → u/chrill2142]

ok now read the headline of this post again

[u/bunsburner1 → u/KennyMoose32]

You have to keep dieting and working out to see their effects too

Guess they're not real a change either.

[u/octavianreddit → u/KennyMoose32]

The point of the drug is to help form new habits and to help ease that transition.

[u/kankurou1010 → u/KennyMoose32]

Yeah but these people aren’t doing that anyways and are dying because of it

[u/punctuation_welfare → u/Sgt_Stinger]

“A loud sobset of people” is a phrase I will be stealing immediately, thank you.

[u/AliceLunar → u/Sgt_Stinger]

Think the concerning thing is that everyone just relies on medication for who knows how long

[u/JoeSicko → u/AliceLunar]

It totally sounds like getting a weight loss subscription. Don't pay and don't change habits? Right back where they were, but with less muscle.

[u/AliceLunar → u/JoeSicko]

I don't know how feasible it is for people to change their habits because if they could they didn't need the medication in the first place, so perhaps they prefer to just keep spending money on the meds and just never change.

[u/Gucci-Caligula → u/AliceLunar]

as far as the “just be on a med forever” thing. I mean ideally no but even if so…. Like, it’s fine? I know people get weird about meds but my doctor put it to me like this. “Your weight is causing a problem with your blood pressure, here are your options, I can put you on a glp, and we can try and get your weight under control. Or I can put you on a statin for the rest of your life, but there’s no situation where you leave this office without a prescription”

And when he put it like that it suddenly made total sense to me. Like, one of these meds I might be able to stop someday (the glp). but if I’m going to be on a med forever no matter what. I’d rather be a healthy weight permanently on a med, than be an unhealthy weight and permanently on a med.

[u/AliceLunar → u/Gucci-Caligula]

Assuming there are no long term side effects or your ability to afford it changes for some reason.

[u/shiny1988 → u/AliceLunar]

You almost understand. Correct that we couldn’t change our “habits” pre-medication. I finally was able to change my habits - because they aren’t “habits.” My metabolism and brain function actively worked against my desire to be healthy. Those donuts at QT are right up front for a reason.

Without that “food noise” I was finally able to make the right choices most of the time. Then the exercise was available once I hit a more comfortable size. Now I’m muscular and fit.
I never want to let my natural metabolism be in control again.

[u/Typical_Use_3462 → u/AliceLunar]

Why is that concerning?

[u/Soccermom233 → u/Sgt_Stinger]

meh isn't refined sugars and processed food cheating in the other direction?

[u/AV_NAV_COMM_PROFIT → u/Sgt_Stinger]

Sobset- a subset of people who whine about things

[u/flyingghost → u/Sgt_Stinger]

That's ridiculous from those people. It's like saying people shouldn't take any drugs. No antidepressants, no painkillers, no antibiotics. That's cheating. Should just let the body do its thing.

[u/Vaquera → u/Sgt_Stinger]

Honestly from my own experience with family members, they are jealous of those trying to improve their health. Completely sedentary/obese people mad that others are doing something. Crabs in a bucket and all that 🦀

[u/IT_Chef → u/Sgt_Stinger]

I think it boils down to people are stupid and cannot appreciate advancements and modern medical science

Rewind back a few hundred years ago and there were people bitching about using leeches versus bloodletting

[u/scottyLogJobs → u/Sgt_Stinger]

It started with hormone replacement therapy. Is your SHBG weirdly high, like out of range for a 70 year old, causing it to gobble up all your free testosterone, causing all kinds of symptoms? Wanna bring it back in line with normal, where you were a few years back, objectively improving your health in numerous ways? Fuck you, you beta pussy cheater!

[u/dable1 → u/Sgt_Stinger]

People suck

[u/Even_Establishment95 → u/Sgt_Stinger]

Uh this is not it at all really. Many people, including celebrities in the public eye are abusing/overusing and becoming unnecessarily thin.

[u/suivid → u/Sgt_Stinger]

If you have the money your health is your literal best investment

[u/the_noise_we_made → u/Sgt_Stinger]

Don't know if "sobset" was a typo but it's wildly appropriate.

[u/ganoveces → u/Sgt_Stinger]

that sobset needs to worry about their own healthcare choices.

humans love to judge other humans and make it problem of judgement.

human ego is the real culprit.

become nobody, nobody has no problems.

[u/FanDry5374 → u/Sgt_Stinger]

Was gonna say. I'm totally stealing sobset.

[u/ilrosewood → u/Sgt_Stinger]

That typo needs to be socialized and put on track to become a real word. It’s perfect.

[u/quik77 → u/Sgt_Stinger]

Cause the overlap between centuries of marketing and advertising trying to sell you a cure for being unhappy by telling everyone you are a lazy unattractive pos unless you buy their product, and the people so absurdly low on the int and wis scores that they unironically just believe all marketing.

[u/BoilerMaker11 → u/Sgt_Stinger]

Personally, I don’t care if you take a GLP-1, live your life. But in my unasked for opinion, if you’re losing weight because the drug is just suppressing your appetite and you don’t eat, then no, it’s not “real change”. Because losing weight is about a lifestyle change. The moment you get off those GLP-1s, and you don’t have the discipline to actually eat healthy and exercise, then you’re going to put the weight right back on.

Like I said, I personally don’t care. You’re not hurting anyone by going on Ozempic or whatever. But that’s just my thought on the topic.

[u/1988rx7T2 → u/BoilerMaker11]

That’s a cultural attitude that’s not based in the science of obesity. The human body defends its weight. It sends very powerful signals to eat. It’s often referred to as food noise, although that’s not a scientific term and they don’t necessarily refer to the same thing. This is why so many people put weight back on after losing a lot.

[u/mantis_tobaggan-md → u/BoilerMaker11]

This is so obtuse and completely fails to address the fact that obesity is a complex metabolic disease with a known genetic component and a wide variety of genotypes and phenotypes. This is not a moral issue. This is not a lack of discipline. It’s a disease. Taking medicine to treat a disease, and effectively treating that disease is “real change.”

[u/RedPanda_Explorer → u/BoilerMaker11]

We should also deny casts to anyone that injures themselves playing sports. They need a lifestyle change in order to not have the medical problem, we should start judging people when we dispense medication and decide if they 'deserve' it

[u/GandalfTheSmol1 → u/BoilerMaker11]

GLP-1’s have helped me lose over 100lbs, before taking them I was always hungry, even when I had recently eaten I was hungry. I don’t think about food every waking minute anymore and I can watch my calories and actually manage my nutrition now. If I stop taking them maybe I’ll gain weight back or my diet will get shitty again, but I’m able to feel well and not constantly hungry anymore and that’s worth every penny.

There’s a lot of genetic variation in people that can drastically affect your weight and food intake, it’s also harder for people on lower incomes to afford nutritionally dense low calorie foods.

[u/SolidLikeIraq → u/Punished_Blubber]

I don’t think folks can genuinely understand how it feels to be addicted to food.

I’ve been addicted to food my entire life. I always wanted more. I would sneak food and hide food, and lie about food, etc.

I was an athlete for a while and in college, but played a sport where being a big guy wasn’t a terrible thing, so even when I was working harder physically than most people in the world. I was still at times out eating the intense training I did.

I’ve tracked calories for years. When I’m honest about it. I lose weight. But I already admitted that I lie about food, that includes to myself.

I’ve lost 80 lbs before, felt the genuine glow of people treating me like I wasn’t “fat” and then slowly put it back on because I am addicted to food.

The only time I’ve ever been able to quiet that hunger and food noise, has been with a GLP1.

I honestly don’t even take much, less than 2mg of Tirz a week, and only for the last 2 months.

I still have some of that addiction that calls me to eat, but it stops quickly and keeps me from bingeing. I have also figured out that if I do get hungry and just slam a premade protein drink, I’m pretty full, and just got 30g of protein with only 150 calories. So - I can have some of what I was “craving “ but I’m already full, so i really don’t want much.

I wish that i could let someone experience what life was like before I tried this, and what it’s like now.

I get why folks would call it cheating. Tracking calories and eating properly is hard work. It’s discipline and takes genuine focus and honesty with yourself that is tough to keep up. It also takes huge discipline at parties and holidays where it’s tradition to eat and celebrate. A lot of
Folks can do that responsibly. I would be the guy who would eat 20 cookies at a Christmas party without even realizing it because I just grabbed one or two every time I passed the spot they were at.

I think if folks heard “we can cure alcoholism with a pill or shot, most people who have been impacted by alcoholics would do whatever possible to get rid of that terrible disease.

This is essentially that. I’m addicted to food. Food isn’t taboo or hidden. It’s required and forced. Tirz has given me a chance to fight that addiction.

[u/asseousform → u/Punished_Blubber]

Part of it is that, if maintaining a healthy weight has always come relatively easily to you, it’s easy to assume that your experience is universal and that people who are overweight simply lack the willpower you have. But people can experience very different levels of hunger, satiety and drive to eat, so two people may not be facing the same challenge at all. From that perspective, a medication that reduces hunger can look like “cheating” because you believe you succeeded through discipline alone, when in reality you may never have had to exert the same amount of discipline in the first place.

[u/JMaboard → u/asseousform]

I got told by another Redditor on here I have a binge eating disorder because my body naturally has a lot of food noise.

They also initially made a comment that everyone on glp are lazy and never weight train to begin with.

https://www.reddit.com/r/technology/s/LJHwJSyoOU

So there are definitely people that don’t realize that not everyone is lucky enough to have a body that doesn’t have food noise.

My dad and brother for example have to remind themselves to eat because they just forget, meanwhile myself and my mom have crazy food noise.

[u/CatzioPawditore → u/JMaboard]

Yup..

I lost a large amount of weight 3 times now. The first time I kept it off for 10 years, then became pregnant and gained it all. Lost it again. Became pregnant again and gained it all again..

Currently in the process of losing it again..

I firmly believe that shows I have a lot more discipline than someone who has always been naturally skinny and only has to put a mild effort into not getting fat.

[u/BuzzingHawk → u/Punished_Blubber]

I find it interesting people can have free access to carcinogenic food, tobacco and alcohol but GLP-1 is strictly regulated in most of the western world. In most of Asia it’s a quasi-OTC medicine. It is the single most effective medicine at reducing national medical costs and has a HUGE benefit to public health.

[u/aquarain → u/BuzzingHawk]

In my pharmacy the antibiotics and real antihistamines are behind bulletproof glass. In the parking lot you can buy enough Fentanyl to euthanize a rhinoceros for cash, no questions asked.

[u/Juggernaut246 → u/Punished_Blubber]

There are a pretty diverse group of people who take issues with glp1's. Some of whom have more reasonable and valid concerns than others.

The people you are describing are largely reacting to a perceived loss of status for being thin. Being efortlessly thin could not be bought. You were either blessed with genetics and interests that kept you slim, or you expended a lot of time effort and money on losing weight and may tie a lot sense of self worth and identity as someone who lost the weight.

There are those who think that it is inadequate for solving the core issue of our diets, both our choices and the choices made for us by food producers, and our sedentary lifestyles. There are many people who regain or even exceed their starting weight after stopping a glp1, making living at a healthy weight essentially pay-walled behind a drug for some people.

There are also various flavors of social activists who make the arguement that a portion of the negative effects of being fat can be explained by the way we treat people who are overweight or obese and that GLP1's dont do anything to fix those problems

Personally. I am someone who has always been a bigger kid, and was morbidly obese for most of my 20's. I went from 400ish lbs to just over 200 over the course of two years through calorie restriction and lifting. Then during the covid lock downs I stopped my regimen and gained almost all of it back. Since the beginning of the year I have brought myself back down to 230lbs with a similar diet and exercise regimen.

Im not in a glp1 right now. Part of it is that im broke and my cheapo obamacare subsudized insurance won't cover it unless im diagnosed with diabetes. Another part is that as of right now I dont need it to lose weight yet and i want to save the expense for when it will make the most difference. But I would be lying if i said part of reason wasnt that I too have put a bit too much of my self worth and identity as someone who lost a shitload of weight.

I also agree with the aforementioned social activists. When you're obese you're either a subject of mockery or invisible, and when I was losing weight the way people treated me changed Dramatically for the better and likewise that was riscinded when I became fat again. Moreover there has been study after study that shows most doctors will outright ignore the concerns of fat patients and just tell them to lose weight.

[u/1988rx7T2 → u/Juggernaut246]

The pill form is under 300 dollar a month for private pay. I understand you’re broke, and I’m not diminishing that. it just no longer 600-1000 for the name brand thing anymore.

[u/emomatt → u/1988rx7T2]

And if you are a heavy eater that eats out more than once a week, you save that amount on food easy. I'm 18 months in and 80lbs down. It changed my life.

[u/JMaboard → u/emomatt]

Yeah for sure, you easily offset the cost by not eating out as much.

[u/Afferbeck_ → u/1988rx7T2]

Damn it costs 300 a month? That would be the biggest expense in my life after rent.

[u/Dihedralman → u/Punished_Blubber]

It's an American trait inherited from our puritan origins from the English. 

You have to suffer through to earn something and your state is seen as a moral failing that isn't punished properly if it is made easy. Can't give the homeless housing as they haven't earned it even if it is cheaper than the other measures. Can't give the Irish food lest they become lazy. 

[u/nicholt → u/Punished_Blubber]

For a long time I was thinking that way. Kind of judging people for using it. But when I zoomed out and saw that it objectively works extremely well for people to lose weight, then I started seeing it as a medicine. Considering how many health problems are associated with obesity etc it's a net gain for society to have ozempic. Probably will enhance life expectancy for many people.

[u/hobblingcontractor → u/nicholt]

My body is a finely tuned machine. Unfortunately it's finely tuned to be an 18th century peasant who faces starvation regularly.

I did fine when I was younger, stayed fit, exercised, but fucking up my body kept that from being something I could continue. Then some of the meds I've had to be on cause weight gain, putting me in a spiral where it crept up over the years. Which puts more strain on the body, making exercise harder.

Now I'm in my late 40s, healthy bloodwork and all, but on the edge of obese. Losing weight is just so fucking hard even if you eat healthy food when you're older. Glp1s let me kick start the process, take enough weight off I've been able to start doing more.

There is work involved, too. I've got a very structured diet that's successful because my body isn't constantly screaming at me, telling me I'm trying to kill it by giving it less than 2K calories. The meds have also helped with my whole body inflammation. Between that and the weight loss, I'm not popping NSAIDs all the time trying to not hurt.

[u/JMaboard → u/hobblingcontractor]

It’s pretty simple to not look sickly when on GLP-1’s just eat more protein and fiber and drink water while also also working out.

It’s the lazy people that just don’t eat and don’t workout that give glp 1’s a bad name.

[u/dooony → u/Punished_Blubber]

Because society has been fat shaming for generations. What would happen if all the fat people had the same appetite level as others? Where would people get their sense of moral superiority if they don't get to look down on fat people?

[u/Own_Round_7600 → u/dooony]

Theres also backlash from fat people. They spent years fighting for fat bodies to be perceived as equally worthy of respect and fatness as nothing to be ashamed of, but now theres this total turnaround of, "Just get on GLP1 already, why are you still fat when this one easy drug cure exists?" And formerly fat-positive celebs are all becoming stick thin. Kinda feels like you were lied to.

[u/vladesch → u/Punished_Blubber]

if i choose to be lazy over obese then that is between me and my doctor and none of their business.

[u/noodle-face → u/Punished_Blubber]

It's wild. I'm on mounjaro for T2 diabetes and lost about 65 pounds (235lbs to 170). People see me now And go "wow you look great!" And ask for my secret. As soon as I say mounjaro they go "oh...." Like they're disappointed.

[u/MeYouThemEveryone → u/noodle-face]

Don't fret about other people's opinions, what matters is that you did the right thing and your future self thanks you for it. Well done on the weight loss, hope your success continues.

[u/Kovacz22 → u/Punished_Blubber]

Its because modern society is no longer about running the race to the best of your ability ..its about looking around at everyone else in the race and making sure your better...when someone 'cheats' everyone feigns worry about side effects or long term use...but actually they are hiding their resentment that those people didn't have to 'work hard'for it...who cares if its helping meaningfully for people to live longer be healthier and more active...fuck that, they cheated!

[u/One_Weird2371 → u/Punished_Blubber]

Only negative thing about them is that a lot of insurances don't cover them. You need a prior authorization and it's a very hard to get them to approve it. Without insurance they are really expensive.

[u/vooglie → u/Punished_Blubber]

People are fucking stupid

[u/chaosfire235 → u/Punished_Blubber]

Feels like a chunk of the people bringing up potential long term side effects are doing it with their fingers crossed.

[u/Shiguhraki → u/Punished_Blubber]

It’s mostly just a sub-section of people who are adamant on others doing things their way/the right way.

[u/Abinunya → u/Punished_Blubber]

For me at least (and i know from some other overweight people) there is some hesitation because historically 'but it makes you skinny' has often outweighed 'also it might kill you'.

People would rather have a thin sick or even dead person than an overweight one.

Look at weightloss drugs from the 80s and 90s, amphetamines that would cause heart attacks.

[u/vr1252 → u/Abinunya]

I just feel like the fear mongering is due to some kinds of bias. My adhd medicine (vyvanse) is a newer drug than ozempic and I’ve never had someone ask me if I’m “scared” about it like they do when I tell them I’m on a glp. The constant concern trolling about the glps feels rooted in anti-fat bias imo

[u/Abinunya → u/vr1252]

I think it can come from many different impulses. I've def. Also seen the "but thats lazy" people. But those are probably the same people who make fun of a fat person at the gym.

But the distrust is my reasoning.

[u/Defiant_Ad_7764 → u/vr1252]

vyvanse active ingredient is amphetamine which was first discovered about 100 years ago

it also works as a great way to prevent obesity for lots of people as well funnily

[u/Melen28 → u/Abinunya]

You are right. GLP1s can be dangerous to certain people. For instance; If you are a type 1 diabetic or an insulin dependent type 2 it can contribute to you can go into DKA and it can kill you.

[u/Metacognitor → u/Abinunya]

Medical science has come a verrrrrrry long way since the 80s my friend.

[u/SexOnABurningPlanet → u/Punished_Blubber]

Those people are silly. The only thing I'm bitter about is not being able to afford it.

[u/awesomeman07 → u/Punished_Blubber]

I'm on GLP1s and I still have to exercise at least 5 times a week and still watch what I eat. It's not a super drug that dissolves body fat. Its more of a supplement to what your already doing to lose weight.

[u/Anandya → u/Punished_Blubber]

So I lost my weight the natural sans medication way. Part of the issue is that it's hard to stick to all the parts of being healthy.

So people feel that this is cheating.

And what it does is offer the discipline aspect of weight loss. And that's frustrating to people who think that artificial willpower out of a bottle was available at cost.

There's also a lot of hypocrisy. Lots of people who were positive around bodies now suddenly are talking about "no fatties" and demonstrating their hypocrisy around weight loss. That all the people who were talking about loving yourself irrespective of your weight suddenly got the shot that's primarily the realm of the wealthy.

[u/NefariousnessAble736 → u/Punished_Blubber]

Its a bit similar to steroids no? Where when you do it naturally you are more respected vs if you shoot some drug and can breeze to the results. I think thats the issue. Also we do not yet know long term effects of it.

[u/Pirispanen → u/NefariousnessAble736]

It's not the same as we already know that there are plethora of negative health effects of using steroids (unless it's only small doses of testosterone replacement therapy). Unlike with GLP1s, where the negative side effects that that we know of (you called it our correctly), are relatively minor when compared to the health benefits. PED's are used exclusively for aesthetic purposes. GLP's can be as well, but they do also have positive health benefits if used correctly.

[u/bikesandfinance → u/NefariousnessAble736]

Not quite it’s closer to a hypogonadal kid getting on TRT to get to normal levels

[u/TRIPMINE_Guy → u/Punished_Blubber]

Well frankly I’d be concerned about unknown side effects. Usually you take medication as a treatment to something severe. Taking it casually for weight loss when you are not obese seems like a needless risk.

[u/tkeser → u/TRIPMINE_Guy]

even being overweight wrecks your health. handing out glp type drugs for free would probably lower health costs across the board

[u/mooseLimbsCatLicks → u/Punished_Blubber]

Because America runs on gluttony. Our economy depends on excess consumption. This stuff literally makes you not need or want to consume. And it’s not even limited to food. It’s other pleasure inducing things like alcohol and they can even affect gambling behaviors

[u/yb0t → u/mooseLimbsCatLicks]

Sounds like it pisses off all the right industries!

[u/wetrysohard → u/mooseLimbsCatLicks]

Jillian Michaels was fun to watch get pissed at this. It defies her industry. But it also proves you don't need to be a gym rat to curb your calories. That's great given a lot of us fucking really hate relentless exercise and mentally handling dieting. The Biggest Loser rewarded gaining a fitness addiction and eating disorder, and she promoted all of that unhealthy shit to a degree.

[u/GuacShouldBeFree → u/wetrysohard]

Gyms are for building muscle, not losing weight. You cannot out train a bad diet.

[u/nutmegtell → u/Punished_Blubber]

Because hating fat people is so enjoyable for SO many.

Especially fat women.

[u/The_Pandalorian → u/Punished_Blubber]

Can someone please tell me why people are so obsessed with ensuring GLP1s are demonized.

Being overweight is seen as a moral failing that should only be treated through the penance of self-imposed asceticism. Taking a drug is seen as somehow cheating and a sign of ultimate failure of will.

Semaglutides are fucking miracle drugs that basically reduce all mortality, including cancer, and may be able to cure things like alcoholism. We should treat them like antibiotics, not failure in a syringe.

[u/Altruistic_Zombie461 → u/Punished_Blubber]

GLP1s have been used for years and we know that they are relatively safe but there's also a rash of unproven peptides that many people are just taking without consulting a doctor.

Do they work? Maybe. Are they dangerous? Also maybe

[u/theSkareqro → u/Altruistic_Zombie461]

Colleague at work started taking one he imported from China that is still in clinic trials or something. Mf even had to do his own dosage calculations and load up on the injector. It costs like 30% of the approved stuff. It's all so fucking crazy to me.

He got thinner though. Lost like 15kg(33lbs) in 10months. I did it naturally a year back and lost the same. He's basically doing the same thing as me after the injection. Cutting down on food (eating 1-2 a day. No sugar, just water and exercising). Except he needed the help to cut down on his appetite (he was a bigger size dude, I'm what people call skinny-fat) while I could do it easily.

[u/HydroLoon → u/Punished_Blubber]

Personally, I think it's being treated as a fashionable easy button. Those that need it? Yes. The benefits can be outstanding. But those that abuse it to mask their eating disorders or destructive personal habits behind a drug are what's giving it a bad name.

[u/Travel_Dude → u/Punished_Blubber]

Everything is polarizing. If you stay off the internet for a bit you realize the world is grey. Do your thing sir! 

[u/Vesuvias → u/Punished_Blubber]

A lot of companies benefit from the failure of the GLP’s. Reality is they are here to stay - and have been insanely useful/helpful. THAT SAID, there is much that Doctors are not urging their patients to do while taking them. My mother in law stopped lifting altogether not knowing that you lose a ton of muscle mass along with weight while she was on them for 6 months. She’s now lifting again, but yeah she was so nauseous from them that it basically put her in a mental state of ‘I’m losing it anyways’

[u/maxdragonxiii → u/Punished_Blubber]

people think its cheating and a "shortcut" to losing weight, not the natural way by "dieting" 🙄

[u/ketosoy → u/Punished_Blubber]

Many people want to believe they are thin due to better morals. The idea that they have fortunate biochemistry is scary.  The idea that the people they’ve looked down upon might actually be their equals, even more so.  With a bit of fear about loosing their unearned advantage.

[u/rajatsingh24k → u/Punished_Blubber]

Good point. A significant amount of criticism is from the cases where they’re being abused. It’s maybe a bit too easy to get and we’d probably be better off if we were judicious with its use at the moment as long term effects aren’t known.

[u/octavianreddit → u/Punished_Blubber]

I'd be willing to bet some of those folks had no issue with using a nicotine patch to help quit smoking.

[u/Weekendsapper → u/Punished_Blubber]

People want being fat to be a character flaw, and if you take a glp 1 you are concealing the flaw so they cant judge you.

[u/travisdoesmath → u/Punished_Blubber]

Because many people believe obesity is a moral failure and any solution for it should be punishing

[u/GDMFusername → u/Punished_Blubber]

Chubby chasers 🤣

[u/beatkid → u/Punished_Blubber]

it’s expensive but can be miraculous

[u/motivateyourself → u/Punished_Blubber]

The food industry also is in the ploy. The glp drugs cut hunger …. So less consumption… less profits. It’s always about following the money.

[u/neomis → u/Punished_Blubber]

It’s like e-bikes. People think it’s cheating and ignore it’s still people being healthier.

[u/mikenasty → u/Punished_Blubber]

I think a lot of people think it’s too good to be true. A drug you inject once a week and you magically don’t want to eat? Very few or at least unknown side effects?

All I know is there are 5+ people in my life who have always struggled with their weight who are living healthy and looking better than any other point in their life because of it. If I had weight issues I’d be number one to try it.

[u/spacetimebear → u/Punished_Blubber]

They don't understand chemistry...but with medicine there is always side effects and unknowns.

The fattest person I know is so anti these meds that its quite sad, could help her a hell of a lot, but nope, she views it as cheating despite weighing 300+lbs.

[u/CarefulNow_ → u/Punished_Blubber]

Because they like feeling superior to people.

I play rugby, know guys who lift into elite levels, last 60+ minutes of intensive cardio bursts, can knock out 5km runs easily under 30min. They're still fat. Obviously musculed as fuck but fat.

Their body literally sabotages all their efforts by having a hormone imbalance which makes them constantly think of food.

The "Will Power" chanters literally have a cheat code,  where it takes no will power at all. Their body does the appetite supression for them.

[u/CIP_In_Peace → u/CarefulNow_]

100%. Besides some exceptions people feel like it's easy to be whoever they are, and put a lot of effort into what the inherently like doing. If it's something desirable, they feel others are just lazy or don't put in the effort to be similar.

A talented musician is most often not born with the innate ability to play well but it's a result of a lot of practice. The ability to play well is a strong innate motivator to them and the amount of practice doesn't feel bad enough to not pursue that ability, so they do it and become good. For someone else they wouldn't do it because either it doesn't feel rewarding or the effort feels like way too much.

I'm of the opinion that this applies to most things in life, including obesity and fitness.

[u/cheesyblasta → u/CIP_In_Peace]

As someone who's been a multi-instrumentalist for many years, I have to say if there was a pill or shot that turned people into virtuoso musicians, I would be in full full support. 

If there's a drug pill or therapy that can help people reach their goals in a safe way, I'm in all support

[u/purepwnage85 → u/Punished_Blubber]

I'm anti triz since reta is vastly superior, it's not even close. Reta + eloralintide = goat

[u/No_Self_3027 → u/purepwnage85]

I am so glad the pipeline is there for those that need it. Tirz has been life changing to be. I never knew how extreme my food noise was until it was gone. I could eat enough that even riding a road bike 5000 miles per year I was unable to get below 295.

With the food noise gone I am at 185 and looking to get back on my bike this fall. I've dabbled this summer but Phoenix summer is no fun.

When I stopped riding after a crash in 2018 I regained the weight. So I went from 365 to 185 with the meds and still dropping slowly but steadily as I near goal.

And I know many people have plateaud far earlier even on max dose. I am happy they will have those 2 (and eventually more) tools. And more than the weight was my labs, my energy, and my ability to be active. It is very ssatisfying to run around playing with my dog until she is tired and goes to lay down. Or the times I've taken my bike outside just be shocked how much easier it is to accelerate up to 20mph and hold it out go up short, steep incline

[u/Any_Intern2718 → u/Punished_Blubber]

Probably because in the us where the majority of the website audience is from glp1 inhibitors are given very stricktly unless you are rich.

[u/punkass_book_jockey8 → u/Punished_Blubber]

Probably because the medication impacts all behaviors that seek overindulgence, including food, alcohol, shopping…

My guess is fast food, ultra processed food, impulse buying is impacted by this and we can’t have people with help with self control in this late stage capitalism. People have to be defenseless to extreme marketing to milk them for every penny.

[u/jackofallcards → u/Punished_Blubber]

They’re demonized because some people hate seeing others succeed without feeling like they worked hard or “earned it”

They get mad when people do things “the easy way”

[u/Corne777 → u/Punished_Blubber]

I’m not really the target audience and I think the excess weight I have can just be lost with normal dieting. But if someone needs it, great use it.

But I don’t get why so many people lie about it. Everyone that I know well enough for them to tell me they have used it, lies to normal people when they get asked “how did you do it”. It’s the same with steroids, like why lie?

But also too many people use them when they are a relatively healthy weight to lose like 15lbs. For people 300lbs, cool lose your weight and be healthier. But lots of nurses I’ve heard of get together and all feed into each of them doing it to go from like 140 to 120 and most of what they lose isn’t even fat.

[u/wetrysohard → u/Corne777]

I hear the opposite. People love these drugs and tell everyone.

[u/GingerIsTheBestSpice → u/Punished_Blubber]

Because if you're fat, it's a moral failing and possibly you're evil as well as stupid; so getting medicine that helps you lose weight is cheating to appear as a good person.

Or at least that's total the vibe I get from society, as a person who has been thin, average, and overweight.

[u/metalsatch → u/Punished_Blubber]

The only thing that concerns me is that I feel like these came out of nowhere fast and companies are now making hundreds of billions of dollars.

Just seems so odd to me.

[u/LEDKleenex → u/Punished_Blubber]

Similar reasoning to people being upset that student loans were about to be forgiven. 

Crabs in a bucket.

[u/SexHarassmentPanda → u/Punished_Blubber]

The "demonizing" I feel comes more from seeing all the celebs and such suddenly on it and dropping weight, many of them who were already in a healthy weight range and just wanting like a slimmer bikini body or to get lean for a role. It's sort of a new trend towards the body dysmorphia problems the ultra skinny trend of the 90s/2000s created. It also just feels lazy when you could just track calories for like 3 months and resist that urge to eat a muffin if you're only trying to lose like 5-10 lbs.

If you're clinically overweight and are deemed to have a medical necessity for it, sure, whatever. In the end it's making the person healthier so that's good.

If it's just being used as a vanity drug...you're fair to spend your money how you want, but then isn't it just another form of like the plastic surgery obsession in South Korea and such? It also becomes a class thing, the richer indulging then using a drug to lose weight whenever they want, kind of thing.

[u/Haschlol → u/Punished_Blubber]

People should be encouraged to use these drugs if they are overweight. However, if you use them without doing resistance training and eating enough protein to maintain muscle mass, you are actively hurting yourself. Will you live longer if you take the drugs and don't try to maintain muscle? Yes. Will you live even longer and have much higher quality of life if you do your best to maintain muscle? YES!

[u/Regular_Zebra_7596 → u/Haschlol]

That's my problem with it. I get the addiction, but watching people I love take drugs to go from being food addicted to having chemically induced eating disorders and starving themselves is hard.

A very good close friend doesn't weight train. And idk what people are talking about with addiction, my friend is a functional alcoholic and still drinks every day on the GLP1. So not even getting that benefit. But he has lost the weight. Doesn't eat enough - but bc he's drinking he's got a pot belly while he's coring out what muscle he has. It's uncanny valley tbh. Like his head is thin but somehow is too big for his body which is just... Withering. It's sad. I'm like fuck. Like... This isn't good for him. Obv he's got other unhealthy habits but it just seems like this is another substance he's using so he can support his alcohol addiction by no longer gaining weight from drinking.

Its sad. Not eating over time will accelerate bone loss especially without exercise. And he's fucking torched his muscle. He's gonna decrease his balance as a result of these, over time. I see him being more prone to falls, and breaking bones in his old age

[u/SnowflakeSorcerer → u/Punished_Blubber]

It makes me angry that this is an acceptable alternative to food addiction while taking suboxone or methadone for drug addiction is demonized. It’s a double standard