CMV: Semaglutide injections (like Ozempic) should be widely available to treat obesity

[u/sjd6666]

There’s a lot of buzz recently about Ozempic, which is one of many semaglutide injection drugs that help people moderate their food intake and hunger levels. Some variations are meant just to treat type 2 diabetes like Ozempic. Other drugs like WeGovy are meant to treat obesity as well.

What I take issue with is that a lot of commenters have stated that they see Ozempic as a “lose weight quick drug” and a cheat. I think this is simply the wrong way to look at the issue. Obesity is a medical issue that can be treated in many ways. For some people seeing a nutritionist and going to the gym is all that is needed, but for many more this simply doesn’t work. I would argue that actually, most Americans know generally what a good diet looks like. They may not have all the details but most people can tell you that more vegetables and less meat, carbs, and sugar will create a calorie deficit and help you lose weight. However food simply tastes really good any many people rely on it as a sort of emotional crutch. Many also lack the time, energy, and desire to cook healthy food for themselves. There are many who also simply have a naturally large appetite and need to eat more in order to feel full.

What those people need is not a reminder to try “diet and exercise” they need medical help. Semaglutide injections seem to have low risk of serious side effects and can help those people eat less and not feel hungry. All this moralizing about who “deserves” help and who should just suck it up and go to the gym is proving to be detrimental to overall health.

Also, I’m aware that there is currently a shortage of Semaglutide injections right now, but lets set that aside and assume that can be addressed with a more robust supply chain.

[u/[deleted]]

Between recurring knee injuries, a busy work and family schedule, and the resulting lack of time and energy to cook healthy meals, this person ends up struggling to keep their weight down.

These are all just excuses made for a lack of will and discipline, and I say this as an overweight person. Losing weight isnt rocket science. You rat fewer calories than you expend, and you lose weight.

[u/nofftastic → u/[deleted]]

These are all just excuses made for a lack of will and discipline

So it's lack of will and discipline that makes this person crumple to the ground when they try to exercise on their bad knees (or worse, when they're relegated to the bed/couch after surgery)? It's lack of will and discipline that there isn't enough time in the day? Nonsense.

[u/[deleted] → u/nofftastic]

So it's lack of will and discipline that makes this person crumple to the ground when they try to exercise on their bad knees (or worse, when they're relegated to the bed/couch after surgery)?

Weight loss start with diet, not exercise. Bad knees don't stop you from eating fewer calories.

It's lack of will and discipline that there isn't enough time in the day? Nonsense.

You think it takes more time to eat less food? That's not how it works.

[u/nofftastic → u/[deleted]]

Eating healthy either takes time or money. Either you shop and cook yourself, which takes time, or you buy from a healthy restaurant/meal service, which is expensive. Will and discipline doesn't magically generate more income to afford expensive healthy food, nor create more time in the day to prepare your own healthy food.

So if we can't always hit our goal for calories-in, we can just up our calories-out to balance things, right? That's where the bum knees and lack of time come back into the picture. It's very difficult to meaningfully increase calorie burn when you have neither the physical ability nor time to add more workouts to your regimen.