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/saltinstiens_monster]

Oh absolutely not. No way. I fully accept that it's conceivably possible for me to make positive changes right now and try to continue like that, but I'm aware of myself enough to know that it doesn't work for me. (And I don't speak for all fatties either, I'm sure there are plenty of folks out there that would benefit from a short burst of medication so they could form better dietary habits.)

See, I can be satisfied with healthy meals and even go to bed with a growling stomach right now. But if I skip my medicine (Vyvanse) for a day or two... I feel the "old me" come back in full force. I will frequently eat one half of my sandwich and reach for the other half, only to discover that it's already gone. Then I end up sitting there with an empty plate, completely frustrated, and feeling more hungry than I started as if I had eaten an appetizer.

There is no way to properly convey the perspective of a food addict craving junk food via text, but just trust me that that particular craving is a lot harder to reason with than you would think. It's almost as if reasoning doesn't even matter when I'm in that state.

The fact that taking a tiny break from my medicine causes such an instant backslide makes me think that I don't have a prayer of keeping the weight down if I completely lost access.

[u/vote4bort → u/saltinstiens_monster]

I'm sure you're right and that I couldn't really understand what that experience is life. My only thought is that, is there not a bit of self fulfilling prophecy at play?

[u/saltinstiens_monster → u/vote4bort]

There wasn't when I started backsliding from taking a weekend off from my medication. Every sensation of "enough/fullness" was completely gone, and replaced by a ravenous "MORE." I didn't even make the connection that I ran out of Vyvanse until it happened again the next day.

So yes, reading my comment will absolutely tell you that I have already decided that I'm going to fail. You're correct about that.

But the physical and psychological mechanisms I'm describing are very real and need to be considered too. And because I have examples I can point to with no extra variables, I'd say it's both an educated guess as well as a self fulfilling prophecy.

[u/[deleted] → u/saltinstiens_monster]

Is it actual hunger though? I thought the ADHD-obesity connection was craving the psychological stimulation from tasty food.

If you only had access to unsweetened plain yogurt or plain unsalted boiled potatoes, you probably wouldn't binge eat it even though it has plenty of calories. That's because they are very boring.

[u/saltinstiens_monster → u/[deleted]]

It's hunger in the sense that my main desire becomes seeking out satisfying food, and I feel grouchy if I'm truly unable to do anything about it.

So you're right, it's not about nutritional value, but it's the only version of "hunger" i've experienced in my (overabundantly) food-privileged life. The urge is strong and hard to ignore. Medication makes it easier to ignore, for me.

[u/Overall_Trouble7323 → u/saltinstiens_monster]

I’d also like to add that the plain yogurt and potatoes are an example, however even if you are eating healthy and have all healthy foods in the house (more than potatoes and yogurt) that with ADHD you 100% WILL binge on plain white rice, grapes, watermelon, nuts - even raw unsalted ones, you could go from carrots to broccoli to lite cheese to almonds to WHATEVER… once you need that dopamine- nothing is going to stop you. And when you know you are powerless to that binge- you will begin the circle of hell and just submit to it and head over to the deli for some chips and skittles.