Do you consider prescription weight loss medications cheating?

paperpudding wrote: »

if I go to the (medical) doctor and complain about - anything - she's going to recommend a pill. I mean, that's their job. Prescribe medicine. They don't care if there are interactions, some of them serious. Neither do the pharmacists. People who I would think would warn me about drug/drug interactions just don't, and I think that's malpractice.

Huge generalisation there

that isnt my experience of working in health care at all.

Doctors I have worked with certainly do care about side effects and certainly are encouraging patients to live healthy lifestyles..
Their job is far more than just prescribing medication


and certainly most people I know, and most of the patients where I work, are not on anxiety meds - can't speak for your circle of people but I do not think that is the norm at all for people doing what you called 'normal living'.

Well, I did get put on 12 different meds, some of which had serious side effects, and the drug interactions were right there on the drug circulars. I even had a good (I thought) doctor: Harvard educated, University of Washington internal medicine doctor. She had 15 minutes with me and any complaint I had she threw a new pill at instead saying (not even once) "Hey, take a walk. Lose 80 pounds."

I have a lot of distrust of the U.S. medical system and doctors. Your mileage may vary in a completely different health care system and country. Aren't you in AU? I'm glad things are different there. Unfortunately I can't move to AU.

I wasn't the one talking about anxiety meds...

No. After all, I took Zyban to help me quit smoking when the good old "gee, just stop smoking" approach didn't work. I don't care how I achieved ex-smoker status, just that I did it.

I wouldn't like to see weight loss meds prescribed without some sort of behavioural modification/dietary education program being delivered alongside though. They're a tool, not a solution.

Real lived experiences count too, even if they're hard to measure.

yes they do. I guess that includes my real life experience of working in general practices for over a decade too.
and even your own " Thankfully, really only one has been like that and I decided to not see her again, and that was a reasonable option for me' would seem to be saying the others for you have not been like that

and there is confirmation bias - that applies to all of us.

what you originally said was "For my demographic it's basically become a meme that we're all on anxiety meds. And to be honest, except for my little subgroup of friends who have chosen to opt out of a lot of what's considered normal living these days, yeah, uh, the meme isn't a lie.'

which would seem to be saying everyone, except people living like you, are on anxiety meds

and I highly doubt that is so - that most people are on anxiety meds.

Objectively, it certainly isnt so for the 3000 or so patients registered at our practice, most of whom live what you called 'normal living' ie mainstream lifestyle.

some are of course, but very far from all or most .

I have looked at weight loss drugs in the past but in my country they are expensive and not everyone can afford to pay for them.

"Cheating" isn't the issue. It's not a competition with other people, it's about health. The real problem with these drugs is that they don't solve the underlying problem which is poor eating habits. They will just address the symptom, which is the weight, and when a person stops taking them they will likely gain it all back because they didn't fix their lifestyle. In addition, there are dangerous potential side effects, which could possibly be worse than a few extra pounds.

To me it seems similar to bariatric surgery...just less extreme. That also has a high failure rate. A girl I went to high school with had the surgery a few years ago. From her facebook posts, it is obvious she is still obese...although less so...and has had various hospital visits since some of which are due to complications of the surgery. She is frequently posting recipes for very sugary desserts and high carb and fried foods. She went through a major surgery...and did not change the lifestyle that put her in that position in the first place. She's a nice person and I feel bad for her...but I am amazed that she can't see the problem here.

I feel like irresponsible doctors are pushing these drugs (and surgeries) to patients due to a profit motive. I have another friend who is not even obese. She is literally only 10 or 15 pounds overweight. She just had her annual checkup and her doctor actually pitched her new weight loss program that would give these drugs. Of course, it's out of pocket since insurance doesn't cover it. So it's a nice cash business for the doctor who is pitching this drug to patients who have no business even considering such a medication. BTW, I asked and she said the doctor made no mention of side effects or the need to take it long-term. Frankly, I find that disgusting.

People just need to do the work. Yes, it requires changing some habits. It requires a little self-denial. But it comes with no negative side effects and no dependence on risky drug.

For me yes it would certainly be cheating. But, if you are extraordinarily obese then take the pills. Anything to help knock off that first 50 lbs or so can give you a much higher chance of success if your doctor agrees.

I spent a lot of years believing it was cheating. But, as I have gotten older, I realized that mentality gave me an odd sense of superiority. "Look at me, I don't need help!" However, this is not a game or a contest.

Obesity happens for a multitude of reasons, those within our control, many not. But, ultimately, whether it is lack of education, financial means, or mental or physical issues, or another reason, obesity causes so damage. To a body, to a family via cyclical issues, even societally.

These drugs are necessary for some, and no judgement. Whatever it takes to get healthy. I do feel that it is too easy to get these meds right now, with all the new and shiny drugs. And the potential side effects are probably not highlighted as they should be. There should be guidelines. I think someone mentioned education to go along with it and I think that would be ideal. Make it part of the package.

So many people haven't a clue what they are doing, or how to truly help themselves in a way that is sustainable. I know, I was a big fan of the whole deprivation route, with a little of the exercise so hard you literally damage yourself and have to give up mentality. Doesn't work, not long term.

Anyways, oy...that is a lot of words to say nope, it is not cheating, lol. I wish the best to anyone trying to get healthier, however they do it, so long as they are trying to be as educated as possible and safe.

chris_in_cal wrote: »

AnnPT77 wrote: »

How about a "don't care"

A thousand words to explain why you don't care, with a bit of questioning the OP thrown in.

Pretty sure I must've written unclearly, because you've certainly not understood what I was trying to communicate. I do care about other people, and respect their decisions. That's the point. I don't need to have an opinion about their very personal decision to use weight loss medications. If I were making that decision for myself, it would be irrelevant to me what other people - outside my medical team - think, especially in terms as judgemental as "cheating" or "not cheating".