Launch HN: Fella (YC W20) – Tackling men's obesity using medication and coaching • Hacker News Board

Re: Launch HN: Fella (YC W20) – Tackling men's obesity using medication and coaching

#21

Post by rich-cartwright » Sat, Aug 21, 2021, 4:05 PM UTC

criticaltinker wrote: post #15

Interesting offering, definitely an important market. > So we started researching effective, evidence-based treatments for obesity Fasting has a tremendous amount science supporting it [1], can you articulate why you're pursuing the prescribed semaglutide approach instead? [1] Fasting: Molecular Mechanisms and Clinical Applications https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S155041311...

Spot on about fasting, and keto has solid evidence as well - https://www.virtahealth.com/ are a great company focused on this.

The issue is we're starting to have a more nuanced understanding of the metabolic resistance people face when they undergo dietary changes - basically the body fights hard against you as you try to lose weight by dieting.

So it's now industry-standard among obesity specialist doctors to see obesity as a "metabolic disease" which, for the vast majority of people, needs a medical approach which doesn't rely on willpower.

Re: Launch HN: Fella (YC W20) – Tackling men's obesity using medication and coaching

#22

Post by tarr11 » Sat, Aug 21, 2021, 4:06 PM UTC

I tried Noom twice. I was the only man in the support group both times. It didn’t really speak to me or work for me.

Definitely interested in this!

Re: Launch HN: Fella (YC W20) – Tackling men's obesity using medication and coaching

#23

Post by MattGaiser » Sat, Aug 21, 2021, 4:08 PM UTC

Ever think of branching into addiction? That's another place where evidence based care is sorely lacking.

Re: Launch HN: Fella (YC W20) – Tackling men's obesity using medication and coaching

#24

Post by Eextra953 » Sat, Aug 21, 2021, 4:11 PM UTC

Great Idea!I checked out the website and it looks like it is targeted towards older men (40+). Was there any particular reasoning for this? I'm in my 20s and I know a lot of men my age who are obese. Was the program developed specifically for older men?

Re: Launch HN: Fella (YC W20) – Tackling men's obesity using medication and coaching

#25

Post by civilized » Sat, Aug 21, 2021, 4:11 PM UTC

robomartin wrote: post #20

[flagged]

Congrats on having a relatively easy time losing weight, but you're not the only person in the world, and not everyone's body works the same as yours. Your scolding of a clinically proven weight loss approach for not being what you did is solipsistic and ignorant. Your approach is, like the others, one among many that will work for some people.

Re: Launch HN: Fella (YC W20) – Tackling men's obesity using medication and coaching

#26

Post by newsclues » Sat, Aug 21, 2021, 4:14 PM UTC

rich-cartwright wrote: post #17

bambax wrote: post #11

Do you plan to open in Europe at some point?

100%. We're actually British founders so it's been a baptism of fire learning about the nuances of US healthcare! That said, the US is the focus for the moment, so we're not planning to expand to Europe for quite a while.

Canada?

Re: Launch HN: Fella (YC W20) – Tackling men's obesity using medication and coaching

#27

Post by zadler » Sat, Aug 21, 2021, 4:17 PM UTC

rich-cartwright wrote: post #21

criticaltinker wrote: post #15

Interesting offering, definitely an important market. > So we started researching effective, evidence-based treatments for obesity Fasting has a tremendous amount science supporting it [1], can you articulate why you're pursuing the prescribed semaglutide approach instead? [1] Fasting: Molecular Mechanisms and Clinical Applications https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S155041311...

Spot on about fasting, and keto has solid evidence as well - https://www.virtahealth.com/ are a great company focused on this. The issue is we're starting to have a more nuanced understanding of the metabolic resistance people face when they undergo dietary changes - basically the body fights hard against you as you try to lose weight by dieting. So it's now industry-standard among obesity specialist doctors to see o…

What’s the connection between stress eating and metabolic disease?

Re: Launch HN: Fella (YC W20) – Tackling men's obesity using medication and coaching

#28

Post by TeeMassive » Sat, Aug 21, 2021, 4:17 PM UTC

robomartin wrote: post #20

[flagged]

>WE DO NOT NEED PILLS!

>Yes, I am yelling.

If pills work then what's the problem? It seems to me that you're making an appeal to nature (https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/appeal-to-nature). Given all the health problems associated with obesity from cancer to cardiovascular problems then whatever side effects the pills have are probably negligible in comparison.

> Weight management isn't at all about eating less. It's about not eating food that actively want to slowly kill you and, yes, engaging in a modicum of exercise in order to deal with insulin resistance, keep bones strong, etc.

Yes nutrition and exercise are important, but even if it's common knowledge it's obviously working like abstinence based sexual education is working to prevent STDs and teenage pregnancy because like we have a natural urge to sex we also have a natural urge to eat calories and while saving energy.

> "Take this pill...we will save you". Sick.

A lot of pills are necessary to prolong and maintain quality of life. What's "sick" about this?

Re: Launch HN: Fella (YC W20) – Tackling men's obesity using medication and coaching

#29

Post by TeeMassive » Sat, Aug 21, 2021, 4:19 PM UTC

Any plan for Canada?

Re: Launch HN: Fella (YC W20) – Tackling men's obesity using medication and coaching

#30

Post by rich-cartwright » Sat, Aug 21, 2021, 4:20 PM UTC

robomartin wrote: post #20

[flagged]

It's important you've written this. We need to have frank conversations about obesity. It affects a lot of people and a lot of people have very strong views on the best solution.

I'll focus on one area of your post: "They will have developed no good habits at all. They will not have a clue as to how to manage stress. They sure as fuck are not going to understand that exercise is important and necessary. They are not going to become discerning about what they eat...They will pop your pills as they suck-in a two liter drink with insane amounts of sugar and inhale cheap carbohydrates in their burritos, burgers, pizza, etc."

I want to emphasize how wrong you are here.

Fella is a 12-month program, with continued support for the rest of your life after that first year. The program is focused on:

- building resilience to stress & other testing emotions

- building a sustainable exercise habit which is enjoyable and sustainable

- building healthier eating habits which are realistic & sustainable

- building sleep habits which help improve metabolic health

In terms of the medication, it's really important to listen to obesity specialists here. They are trying to find practical solutions to help people. It's clear that moral indignation isn't working so far.

These are all legitimate concerns you raise. Know that I have researched this deeply, and genuinely believe this is the best practical solution to help the most amount of people.

Please let me know your thoughts.