Ozempic, GLP-1 and other modern diabetes / weight loss medications

[bluestarcyclone]

Can I ask why so many other countries don't have this impulse? Why are we by far and away the fattest country on earth. Canada is not even close to us as far as I know. England does not seem to have this problem. It seems to be mostly American and everyone from those two countries I mentioned came from the same basic DNA pool. There is something in America that has gave us all excuses. I do agree that people have made themselves addicted to food. However, what are we really doing about that? We are making drugs to combat it. Which if long term they end up being healthy, that is good. I think people should be OK long term. It just seems like in America we give ourselves a lot of excuses for our actions instead of looking in the mirror.

Firstly, other countries do have the same problem, we're just ahead of the curve. Obesity rates have been rising in rapid rates in most developed countries.

Secondly why its occurring is really a much more complicated and multi-variable question that involves things such as the way we design our cities and the way food is produced and distributed to americans, none of which are really an individual issue.

 

[FinalFourCy]

Can I ask why so many other countries don't have this impulse? Why are we by far and away the fattest country on earth. Canada is not even close to us as far as I know. England does not seem to have this problem. It seems to be mostly American and everyone from those two countries I mentioned came from the same basic DNA pool. There is something in America that has gave us all excuses. I do agree that people have made themselves addicted to food. However, what are we really doing about that? We are making drugs to combat it. Which if long term they end up being healthy, that is good. I think people should be OK long term. It just seems like in America we give ourselves a lot of excuses for our actions instead of looking in the mirror.

Different habits and culture are a big part of it.

Even with-in the US, obesity rates fluctuate by region. Habits, culture, expectations etc differ, and manifest in changes in obesity rates. Certainly the economics of enjoying a healthy lifestyle also comes into play too, when comparing cities like Seattle to Jackson, MS

 

[FriendlySpartan]

Can I ask why so many other countries don't have this impulse? Why are we by far and away the fattest country on earth. Canada is not even close to us as far as I know. England does not seem to have this problem. It seems to be mostly American and everyone from those two countries I mentioned came from the same basic DNA pool. There is something in America that has gave us all excuses. I do agree that people have made themselves addicted to food. However, what are we really doing about that? We are making drugs to combat it. Which if long term they end up being healthy, that is good. I think people should be OK long term. It just seems like in America we give ourselves a lot of excuses for our actions instead of looking in the mirror.

Couple factors: the biggest one is the food industry that we have which we are slowly exporting to the rest of the world. It’s why Ireland doesn’t let subway call their bread “bread” since it has so much added sugar.

There is also the fact that most of the US is automobile focused which cuts down on exercise. We also spend way more time in sedentary jobs (including time sitting at said job) then European countries.

A lot of it is societal things that we have created that work against us including not having universal health care

 

[Helser 83]

JFC, why don't all you people quit feeding the troll. He eats it up if you can't tell.

 

[besserheimerphat]

JFC, why don't all you people quit feeding the troll. He eats it up if you can't tell.

No he doesn't, he's got incredible willpower.

 

[Mr.G.Spot]

Firstly, other countries do have the same problem, we're just ahead of the curve. Obesity rates have been rising in rapid rates in most developed countries.

Secondly why its occurring is really a much more complicated and multi-variable question that involves things such as the way we design our cities and the way food is produced and distributed to americans, none of which are really an individual issue.

Correct. Eastern and Western Europe look a lot different today than 20 years ago. Sad.

 

[besserheimerphat]

I think about food pretty much all the time. I think about my next meal while I'm eating. If someone brings donuts or cookies into the office, I am distracted until they are gone. Even if they weren't for my department. I always eat faster than other people. I've continued to eat while uncomfortably full. That is food noise. It's not rational. It's not intentional. It's not really even voluntary. It's great that you can say "boy I'd like another taco but I shouldn't." For many people, that's not an option - you eat the tacos until they're gone. Sometimes it's not even about hunger or wanting to eat. It can be a literal compulsion.

"Put down the fork" has to be the solution - I won't deny CICO. But there are better, more consistent methods than shaming. Lifestyle change doesn't work for most people long term. Forcing a less effective solution on people for some perceived moral high ground is BS.

 

[nrg4isu]

I think about food pretty much all the time. I think about my next meal while I'm eating. If someone brings donuts or cookies into the office, I am distracted until they are gone. Even if they weren't for my department. I always eat faster than other people. I've continued to eat while uncomfortably full. That is food noise. It's not rational. It's not intentional. It's not really even voluntary. It's great that you can say "boy I'd like another taco but I shouldn't." For many people, that's not an option - you eat the tacos until they're gone. Sometimes it's not even about hunger or wanting to eat. It can be a literal compulsion.

"Put down the fork" has to be the solution - I won't deny CICO. But there are better, more consistent methods than shaming. Lifestyle change doesn't work for most people long term. Forcing a less effective solution on people for some perceived moral high ground is BS.

I hadn't heard the term food noise until about a month ago. I also hadn't experienced a glp-1 until 3 weeks ago. The term Food Noise is absolutely spot on.

I'm overweight and technically obese. I've never been one to be called skinny. Over my life exercise has come and gone. I was 158ish in 2014 at the finish line of an Ironman. Kids came along in 2016/18. Priorities changed.

I absolutely know what it takes to lose weight and i can do that with or without glp-1. I absolutely cannot make food noise go away without glp-1.

 

[besserheimerphat]

I had gotten up to 365 (at 5'9") in about 2019. Just crossed the threshold into type 2 diabetes. I joined a program offered through my work and with a lot of 1-on-1 guidance managed to get down to 235 by mid 2021. My A1c is back in the normal range. Diet only, no exercise. I hadn't weighed 235 since my freshman year of high school. Maybe 8th grade. I posted a before and after pic somewhere way up in this thread. This is pre-GLPs. But the food noise is constant. Around the end of 2021 I had gotten back up to about 265, where I've been ever since (+/- 5lbs). So I know what it takes and how to get there without GLPs or TRT - just rawdogging a strict diet.

I exercise a lot now because I enjoy it. It hasn't lowered my weight any, because that's not what exercise is for. But it's helped me stay in control of the food noise a bit. I still think about food constantly but at least I can focus is a bit on getting protein and healthy carbs/fats AS LONG AS I don't have exposure to bad options. I've had to become a much better cook so I can control what I'm eating more. It's usually not even junk food, its just too much of everything. Too much chicken, too much tuna, too much rice and potatoes. And almost the only calories I drink are a tsp of sugar free Coffeemate in a cup of coffee. Occasionally I drink a little milk.

 

[madguy30]

haha. Go back and read the post I just wrote a half hour ago where I basically said I deal with it all the time and don't act on it. Keep trying. You are being ignorant right now. You are not actually reading what I am saying. You are just posting to try and be in an argument. I guess that is whatever but start reading what I actually write.

Putting a blanket statement out that people are obese because they're lazy, is in itself, a lazy statement.

 

[madguy30]

I am 100 percent not open chastising people for using it. I am saying people who use to are not suddenly going to start working out and trying to put on muscle.

And then some are telling you that there's tendencies of people getting the notion to start working out and eating healthier after taking this stuff and you're like 'Nuh-uh, that's not happening'.

 

[Cyclonefan710]

Can I ask why so many other countries don't have this impulse? Why are we by far and away the fattest country on earth. Canada is not even close to us as far as I know. England does not seem to have this problem. It seems to be mostly American and everyone from those two countries I mentioned came from the same basic DNA pool. There is something in America that has gave us all excuses. I do agree that people have made themselves addicted to food. However, what are we really doing about that? We are making drugs to combat it. Which if long term they end up being healthy, that is good. I think people should be OK long term. It just seems like in America we give ourselves a lot of excuses for our actions instead of looking in the mirror.

Unfortunately people would rather continue making poor choices and take a pill. A lot of those food cravings “Food noise” is because people eat like ****. It’s sad seeing people convince themselves there’s nothing that can be done outside of a “miracle drug”

 

[Clonehomer]

Can I ask why so many other countries don't have this impulse? Why are we by far and away the fattest country on earth. Canada is not even close to us as far as I know. England does not seem to have this problem. It seems to be mostly American and everyone from those two countries I mentioned came from the same basic DNA pool. There is something in America that has gave us all excuses. I do agree that people have made themselves addicted to food. However, what are we really doing about that? We are making drugs to combat it. Which if long term they end up being healthy, that is good. I think people should be OK long term. It just seems like in America we give ourselves a lot of excuses for our actions instead of looking in the mirror.

Capitalism. PepsiCo and company are allowed to essentially be drug dealers by freely advertising and offering high calories foods and drinks. It could be stopped, but there’s too much money to be made. Can you imagine the corn lobby if the government tried to limit High Fructose Corn Syrup? That stuff is just as addictive as many drugs to some people.

Other countries limit calories and label high calorie drinks with warning labels. They treat sugar like we treat nicotine. You can get it, but it will be in small portion sizes. You aren’t getting that 84 oz Big Buddy of Mt Dew in other countries.

 

[Mr.G.Spot]

Capitalism. PepsiCo and company are allowed to essentially be drug dealers by freely advertising and offering high calories foods and drinks. It could be stopped, but there’s too much money to be made. Can you imagine the corn lobby if the government tried to limit High Fructose Corn Syrup? That stuff is just as addictive as many drugs to some people.

Other countries limit calories and label high calorie drinks with warning labels. They treat sugar like we treat nicotine. You can get it, but it will be in small portion sizes. You aren’t getting that 84 oz Big Buddy of Mt Dew in other countries.

Blame capitalism. Wow.

 

[NetflixAndClone]

Capitalism. PepsiCo and company are allowed to essentially be drug dealers by freely advertising and offering high calories foods and drinks. It could be stopped, but there’s too much money to be made. Can you imagine the corn lobby if the government tried to limit High Fructose Corn Syrup? That stuff is just as addictive as many drugs to some people.

Other countries limit calories and label high calorie drinks with warning labels. They treat sugar like we treat nicotine. You can get it, but it will be in small portion sizes. You aren’t getting that 84 oz Big Buddy of Mt Dew in other countries.

 

[Cyballz]

I swear half this country got their degree in Do My Own Research at Anecdotal Evidence State College.

Just Trust Me Bro™

 

[CloniesForLife]

Blame capitalism. Wow.

I mean it absolutely is a large factor in the overall food system and environment in the US. And I'll leave it at that so I don't cave this thread

 

[madguy30]

Blame capitalism. Wow.

The concept no, but using it to take full advantage of people despite destroying them, absolutely.

Just one example, cereal/processed food industries tapped into the cigarette companies decades ago on how to cater to addictive behaviors in marketing for their products which only got unhealthier but more accessible and consumable, and relatively cheaper at the same time.

 

[CascadeClone]

Capitalism. PepsiCo and company are allowed to essentially be drug dealers by freely advertising and offering high calories foods and drinks. It could be stopped, but there’s too much money to be made. Can you imagine the corn lobby if the government tried to limit High Fructose Corn Syrup? That stuff is just as addictive as many drugs to some people.

Other countries limit calories and label high calorie drinks with warning labels. They treat sugar like we treat nicotine. You can get it, but it will be in small portion sizes. You aren’t getting that 84 oz Big Buddy of Mt Dew in other countries.

Blaming capitalism and companies for the problem is just as lazy as saying people are only fat because they are lazy.

It takes two to tango. Companies make their products "irresistable"so people buy them, but people still make choices. No one is mandated to eat chips and pop, and they aren't heroin. Doritos aren't as addictive as nicotine, and people manage to quit nicotine.

That said, on a societal level, there IS a negative impact from too many people eating too much junk food. Its probably about time for taxing sugar or fat in some way. Instead of skulls on packs of cigs, maybe you need pics of diabetic feet on bags of Doritos.

 

[MeowingCows]

Blaming capitalism and companies for the problem is just as lazy as saying people are only fat because they are lazy.

It takes two to tango. Companies make their products "irresistable"so people buy them, but people still make choices. No one is mandated to eat chips and pop, and they aren't heroin. Doritos aren't as addictive as nicotine, and people manage to quit nicotine.

That said, on a societal level, there IS a negative impact from too many people eating too much junk food. Its probably about time for taxing sugar or fat in some way. Instead of skulls on packs of cigs, maybe you need pics of diabetic feet on bags of Doritos.

Companies make products that are addictive. We choose to do nothing to prevent that, thus it's the free market in action. It's not a matter of "less addictive than smoking", it's making the concept of food, a requirement for living, into anything resembling addictive substances. Speaking of addictions, it just so happens that all the most addictive and destructive foods, tend to be the cheapest to buy and easiest to prepare. Imagine that.