Thank you for your Ozempic piece, Helen. I'm constantly sifting through my thoughts on these drugs as someone who lost around 70 pounds a decade ago without any drug/surgery interventions. I experienced a lot of the same weirdness from other people when I lost weight; it's like your body suddenly becomes a canvas upon which everyone is splashing their own body baggage. I am neither pro- nor anti-Ozempic et al., but I often wonder if people are psychologically and mentally prepared for the emotional/social weirdness of weight loss. I think your piece might help them understand more.
Thanks! And yes, I’m always fascinated by things which people are supposed to have uncomplicated feelings of joy about — see also, having kids — because life is never that simple…
Hi Helen - what I find interesting about the whole Ozempic bandwagon is what happens after the 2 years (the current prescription limit on the NHS) are up? The drugs undoubtedly work but only while being used - they have no long-lasting effects. I’m only going on anecdotal evidence but the “nutrition advice and support” that is supposed to go alongside an NHS prescription seems to amount to zilch. For people in this situation what they really have the equivalent of bariatric surgery on loan.
Completely agree with the idea that people make judgments about someone’s health purely on their outward appearance: slim = healthy but will no real idea what going on under the bonnet (hood for our American friends 😉).
That’s a really good point — although even 2 years of reduced weight will have good effects on everything from blood glucose to heart disease risk. But yes, the NHS struggles when it comes to what you might call “wraparound care” … anything that’s not just a simple treatment for a single condition. That’s the story of child gender medicine, and menopause care, and obesity, and I’m sure a whole load of other things.
Yes - the 2 years will result in significant health benefits but should be seen as a window of opportunity - “here’s what you could have long term but ONLY if you change your relationship with food” - that’s where the support is lacking. It would also help if we gave people a fighting chance by changing the food environment but the chances of that happening (while there’s gold in them thar hills) are, ironically, slim.
Thank you for your Ozempic piece, Helen. I'm constantly sifting through my thoughts on these drugs as someone who lost around 70 pounds a decade ago without any drug/surgery interventions. I experienced a lot of the same weirdness from other people when I lost weight; it's like your body suddenly becomes a canvas upon which everyone is splashing their own body baggage. I am neither pro- nor anti-Ozempic et al., but I often wonder if people are psychologically and mentally prepared for the emotional/social weirdness of weight loss. I think your piece might help them understand more.
Thanks! And yes, I’m always fascinated by things which people are supposed to have uncomplicated feelings of joy about — see also, having kids — because life is never that simple…
Hi Helen - what I find interesting about the whole Ozempic bandwagon is what happens after the 2 years (the current prescription limit on the NHS) are up? The drugs undoubtedly work but only while being used - they have no long-lasting effects. I’m only going on anecdotal evidence but the “nutrition advice and support” that is supposed to go alongside an NHS prescription seems to amount to zilch. For people in this situation what they really have the equivalent of bariatric surgery on loan.
Completely agree with the idea that people make judgments about someone’s health purely on their outward appearance: slim = healthy but will no real idea what going on under the bonnet (hood for our American friends 😉).
That’s a really good point — although even 2 years of reduced weight will have good effects on everything from blood glucose to heart disease risk. But yes, the NHS struggles when it comes to what you might call “wraparound care” … anything that’s not just a simple treatment for a single condition. That’s the story of child gender medicine, and menopause care, and obesity, and I’m sure a whole load of other things.
Yes - the 2 years will result in significant health benefits but should be seen as a window of opportunity - “here’s what you could have long term but ONLY if you change your relationship with food” - that’s where the support is lacking. It would also help if we gave people a fighting chance by changing the food environment but the chances of that happening (while there’s gold in them thar hills) are, ironically, slim.
Suggestion for next week's links ... the cunning solution to absence of female speakers on tech conferences ... https://x.com/GergelyOrosz/status/1728177708608450705?s=20