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Assuming this is true, it is abundantly clear that people can’t or won’t do this.
There are numerous studies and examples of people doing just that, however it's up to the individual and no one is going to force individuals to do anything in terms of weight loss or in relation to other factors regarding their health.
As for Semaglutide medications, it's generally prescribed for people with genuine medical issues and illnesses or those with levels of obesity that border on the morbid rather than those who are simply over weight.
Those that are simply over weight can be simply informed of the life style choices that they should make, in the same way a heavy drinker would be informed not to drink as much.
Thanks for pointing this out….it is not a savings that I immediately would have thought about. It would be interesting to know what the cost of treating obesity is currently, and comparing that to cost of these new drugs.
Not just obesity, but diabetes. And these two entail a significant portion of total US HC spending.
And then over time, HC savings related to reduced cardiac and stroke disasters in these patients.
Also you have the improved lives and productivity of millions of patients and their families.
And then possibly more commerce and increased GDP.
Assuming this is true, it is abundantly clear that people can’t or won’t do this.
1) There's no assumption. It is true.
Calories in < calories out, >= 30 min exercise at least 3x per week, low carb/high protein diet that relies on nutrient dense, natural, single ingredient foods, like meat, fish, eggs, leafy greens veggies, etc.
Followed properly and honestly, the only people for whom that won't work have an individually specific medical condition that will require individually specific medical treatment. Like they have a literal, no doubt about disease or genetic condition. That represents like 2% of the obese population. I hope that 2% find a good physician who isn't a thrall to Big Pharma. The remaining 98% need to learn how to read and understand nutrition info and then understand that with literally $70, they can purchase all the equipment needed to do full body exercise without ever leaving their house.
2) People can do this, quite easily in fact. But they won't and don't. As someone who went from ~100 pounds overweight and all the precursor signals of onset T2D, to being a more modest (with plenty of work left to do) 30 pounds overweight and no signs of T2D, ask me how I know about won't and don't. Yeah, 70 pound difference is neato, but I still have work to do, most of which takes the form of simply saying no when I am asking myself whether should I do something stupid with my diet.
3) Whether it saves money relative to the spend on the health problems related to obesity or not, the simple fact is that obesity is a CONDITION OF CHOICE. Calories in < calories out is a scientific, biological fact of weight loss. Calories in is 100% choice, and calories out can be measured, monitored, increased and decreased according to choices. Thus, whatever these miracle weight loss "save me from the hard work of dealing with the consequences of my own actions" drugs cost falls under the heading "too bad, so sad, suck it up, Buttercup" Everyone (98%, of everybody, that is) who is obese chose to be that way, so whatever their remedies cost them is irrelevant to anyone and everyone else.
Not just obesity, but diabetes. And these two entail a significant portion of total US HC spending.
And then over time, HC savings related to reduced cardiac and stroke disasters in these patients.
Also you have the improved lives and productivity of millions of patients and their families.
And then possibly more commerce and increased GDP.
As already mentioned two thirds of people on these drugs just put the weight straight back on after stopping them, whilst the long terms side effects are unknown however they have been linked with thyroid, pancreas and bowel illnesses.
Most countries have therefore restricted such medication to prescription only and even then it is mainly used for weight loss in relation to those with morbid obesity.
Even in terms of Type 2 diabetes, the drug Metformin is already a far better option in the longer term.
You can not just keep losing weight with these drugs, then putting it back on again due to a poor diet and then going back on the drugs in a continual cycle, as this could do your body and long term health serious damage.
There have also been cases of gastroparesis (stomach paralysis), bowel problems and blockages, inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), thyroid issues including cancers etc etc, as closing down your stomach and bowels and impacting your natural hormones may not be a very good idea, especially in the long term.
Last edited by Brave New World; 05-19-2024 at 09:05 AM..
You can not just keep losing weight with these drugs, then putting it back on again due to a poor diet and then going back on the drugs in a continual cycle, as this could do your body and long term health serious damage.
My wife has a cousin who had the lap band surgery, lost like 170 pounds, then when the band was removed, gained it all back with interest. Then she had both her knees and one hip replaced because of the toll her weight was taking on her joints. Then she got prescribed one of the new "miracle" weight loss drugs, and while she has once again lost over 100 pounds, this time she also lost a bunch of muscle that her already frail system couldn't handle, so she is now living life from a wheelchair, and because she cannot fit through the skinny doors of her old house, lives in a single room that includes the portable toilet.
In the 19 years I have known her...she has NEVER changed her diet choices. Lap band just makes you feel full after a few bites, and Ozempic et al make you feel less hungry and more satiated with less food, while also altering your body's ability to produce insulin and blood sugar (the A1C reduction thing for which it was was intended).
But examine the weight loss aspect outside of specifically mucking with how the pancreas and liver are functioning - feeling full, for longer, with less food. Uhm...let's think what part of the good diet/exercise equation I listed this applies to? Hmm. Oh yeah, that would be REDUCING CALORIES IN for people who simply cannot make proper decisions with what they voluntarily put in their mouth.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brave New World
There have also been cases of gastroparesis (stomach paralysis), bowel problems and blockages, inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), thyroid issues including cancers etc etc.
Muscle loss is also a major side effect.
One of my best friends lost 120 pounds via Ozempic, and his exact words to me about three months ago were "dude, I haven't lifted in a year because Ozempic has f***ed me up." About 2 years ago, when he and I lifted, our bench sessions were in the 185-225 range. Now he does standard 8-12 rep, 3x set workouts with 95-115...after three months of trying to get back into exercise.
In other countries with government run health insurance the government negotiates drug prices with the manufacturer
That is not the case in the US - why not?
Because the two party system directs attention away from issues that actually affect every American and instead focus the minions on whether Trump is falling asleep in court or if Obama is really running the Biden administration, etc. So Big Pharma buys off congress and gets to charge whatever they want and most Americans don't care.
”Ozempic is a weight loss medication that can cause rapid muscle loss, especially when combined with rapid weight loss and a lack of protein and strength training. This condition is known as sarcopenia, which can lead to a loss of strength, stamina, and resting metabolic rate”
”People dropping pounds on Ozempic are losing not only fat, but also muscle mass. This is a condition known as sarcopenia. As muscle mass diminishes, so do strength, stamina and resting metabolic rate.”
”Ozempic use often leads to loss of more muscle than fat”
As already mentioned two thirds of people on these drugs just put the weight straight back on after stopping them, whilst the long terms side effects are unknown however they have been linked with thyroid, pancreas and bowel illnesses.
Most countries have therefore restricted such medication to prescription only and even then it is mainly used for weight loss in relation to those with morbid obesity.
Even in terms of Type 2 diabetes, the drug Metformin is already a far better option in the longer term.
You can not just keep losing weight with these drugs, then putting it back on again due to a poor diet and then going back on the drugs in a continual cycle, as this could do your body and long term health serious damage.
There have also been cases of gastroparesis (stomach paralysis), bowel problems and blockages, inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), thyroid issues including cancers etc etc, as closing down your stomach and bowels and impacting your natural hormones may not be a very good idea, especially in the long term.
I suspect that many if not most will be on these meds long term. Prices are bound to come down with competition and the introduction of new formulations. (and possibly central price controls) Longer term for most they will be net positive. Of course I could be wrong. My experience with clinical weight loss spans over 40 years, but only about 6 months with these new drugs. We recently had a local internist who backed herself into the specialty of bariatrics, and just quit medicine. We almost no longer need her. I now see local aesthetics clinics advertising them. Not a good sign IMO, but time will tell.
In other countries with government run health insurance the government negotiates drug prices with the manufacturer
That is not the case in the US - why not?
Because it would inconvenience the billionaire class and that makes it socialism.
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