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GLP-1 drugs: An economic disruptor? (2024)

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Re: GLP-1 drugs: An economic disruptor? (2024)

#461
post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are some signs that these drugs have effects beyond just apetite supression leading to weight loss. I recall reading something about them having a direct slowing effect on the metabolism, which increases longevity, among other benefits. I can foresee it being used like a supplement among those who can afford it.

It will probably fuck up your body in ways that we can hardly imagine. Ozempic has been linked to lots of horrible side effects.

Its saved or extended 1000 lives for every one person whos gotten some GI stress from it.

Re: GLP-1 drugs: An economic disruptor? (2024)

#462
post #19

I started Tirzepatide 3-4 weeks ago. (Mostly as an experiment to understand the hype around GLP's... I don't have diabetes and only very slightly overweight at 20% body fat). Even at the lowest 2.5mg starter dose which you're only allowed to stay on for 1 month: - Extreme appetite suppression to the point where I've started calorie counting specifically to make sure that I'm eating enough. It's incredibly easy to for…

I’m not going to lie all this sounds like heaven to me. I absolutely hate the way my appetite works. I have a genuine dysfunction with food. It goes back as far as I can remember. My cravings never stop, even after being satiated. It’s an endless cycle of weight gain then loss then gain as my willpower fluctuates for a variety of reasons. My insurance only recently started to cover these weight loss drugs, and I have…

I've been on them for over a year now. I was 320lbs at my peak. I'm down to 247 as of today. I have about another 27 pounds to lose, and then I think I'll be where my doctor wants me.

Here's my experience (n=1):

* Zepbound is better than Wegovy. Wegovy has more side effects than Zepbound. Also the Zepbound pen is better than Wegovy.

* If you're worried about needles, don't be. The injection feels more like a rubber band snapping at the skin. And you'll get used to it.

* I typically have moody days maybe 2 or 3 days after I inject. I attribute that to blood sugar changes.

* Food tastes differently to me now. Food I used to really like can sometimes now just be okay. I don't like french fries so much anymore like I used to (they're good, but not what I remember). The huge bowl of chips I got from the Mexican restaurants don't taste as good anymore. Potatoes aren't really as attractive anymore. I prefer protein.

* I had constipation, which is a side effect. There was a stool softener I took from costco that helped. Eventually that went away.

* I got a bike for exercise. It's nice in that I feel like I actually go places rather than sitting on a Peloton. I also get fresh air. I had to find something I wanted to do, and I hate walking frankly.

* As I lost weight my alcohol tolerance dropped, but it's to be expected but still surprising when one beer hits you harder than it used to.

Maybe some tips:

* Nausea might a be a side effect, more so with Wegovy than Zepbound according to my doctor. So I guess plan to take it easy if you can.

* Your relationship with food will change, so be prepared mentally for that. Food used to make you happy maybe, and now it won't. So figure out what activities and interests that make you happy which don't involve food.

* Sugar is the one thing that can still ruin your progress. So be careful with desserts/candies/sweets/sugared sodas/etc.

* There's some debate about whether diet sodas spike your insulin levels or not. I would recommend going to black coffee to get your caffeine if you haven't already, and black coffee will also help to stimulate your bowels as well. That said, diet sodas are still better than sugared sodas.

Re: GLP-1 drugs: An economic disruptor? (2024)

#463
post #19

I started Tirzepatide 3-4 weeks ago. (Mostly as an experiment to understand the hype around GLP's... I don't have diabetes and only very slightly overweight at 20% body fat). Even at the lowest 2.5mg starter dose which you're only allowed to stay on for 1 month: - Extreme appetite suppression to the point where I've started calorie counting specifically to make sure that I'm eating enough. It's incredibly easy to for…

Awesome stuff. Envious, here (NL) its impossible to get a prescription.

For an alternative approach for comparison: My wife and I eat low carb and fast every other day for a year now. Around the 2nd month mark we got the exactly same outcome: food became a chore. We sometimes dont eat for 2-3 days when travelling or busy. I dont remember feeling hungry in about a year. We do sports - I sure have less peak power, but can sustain moderate efforts for longer (I use a power meter and Hr strap - my vo2max dropped). I feel significantly sharper mentally and managed to learn a new language (Dutch, from zero to B2) in a year - while working a cto job. Not eating easily gives 3hr extra a day, incl. what I get from waking up early.

Saves us a ton on groceries and eating out. The only thing we do watch out is carbs - I can eat a kebab or two tacos but dont eat any sweets, eat bread or drink beer/soda. Weight stabilized at my high school level. Not sure if I can recommend it as it is a bit tricky to practice, especially while having a job that requires routine socializing, but - it does work. The only really difficult thing is to start and endure the first two weeks or so.

Re: GLP-1 drugs: An economic disruptor? (2024)

#464

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm a few months into this drug as well, and I have to say, it doesn't offer control . What it offers is a lack of cravings & appetite . That is different, remarkably so. Control would mean I might still feel hungry. Ever. Or that I could decide to eat heavily at one meal, but I don't and as long as I take the drugs, I won't. That doesn't feel like control, it feels like I've had something removed. I guess it's a mat…

Stop moving up the dosage so fast.

I'm under the care of a physician, and my dose is fine, and managed by him, thanks :)

Re: GLP-1 drugs: An economic disruptor? (2024)

#465

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've been on tirzepatide for 8 weeks (2.5mg then 5mg) and have a very similar conclusion as you. I started off at 160kg 8 weeks ago and now I'm down to 145kg. No other change in my lifestyle except eating radically less. Two 500-calorie-ish meals a day and some fruit as a snack, that's about it. For decades I've struggled with diets but tirzepatide is the only thing that's made me stick with it. Will power alone wasn…

You lost 35kg in 2 months? That's insane. Any issues with loose skin so far?

160 - 145 = 15kg

Re: GLP-1 drugs: An economic disruptor? (2024)

#466
post #19

I started Tirzepatide 3-4 weeks ago. (Mostly as an experiment to understand the hype around GLP's... I don't have diabetes and only very slightly overweight at 20% body fat). Even at the lowest 2.5mg starter dose which you're only allowed to stay on for 1 month: - Extreme appetite suppression to the point where I've started calorie counting specifically to make sure that I'm eating enough. It's incredibly easy to for…

The feeling of no hunger at all will dissipate in a few months, even as you increase dose.

You will probably land on "not often hungry". The feeling of being full very quickly when you do eat will stay

Re: GLP-1 drugs: An economic disruptor? (2024)

#467
post #210
post #19

I started Tirzepatide 3-4 weeks ago. (Mostly as an experiment to understand the hype around GLP's... I don't have diabetes and only very slightly overweight at 20% body fat). Even at the lowest 2.5mg starter dose which you're only allowed to stay on for 1 month: - Extreme appetite suppression to the point where I've started calorie counting specifically to make sure that I'm eating enough. It's incredibly easy to for…

I am 8 months in, you do develop a tolerance over time to the drug (and why you need to increase the dosage progressively). I have gone up slower than the prescibed steps but still, this drug is to help doing diets, I don't think it would work as a long term medication. And as far as I can tell, when you get off the drug or have become tolerant to the current dosage, it is easy to gain back some weight if you are not…

Interesting, what is the end game then if you need to be on the drug to keep the weight off but you also develop resistance to it over time?

I wonder how the body reacts after being on the drug for years at a time and then you cut it off, are the cravings stronger than before you started the drug?

Re: GLP-1 drugs: An economic disruptor? (2024)

#468

Obesity causes many health problems, but it's also a symptom - of our poor relationship with food, of the way American society is set up around instant gratification, of the predatory nature of food manufacturers. Though treating the symptom is undeniably good, it also lets the deeper problems that lead to it go unchecked, and my fear is that it will lead to novel problems down the line. How recreational drugs are be…

name some nations that maintain healthy weight without drugs? your dogma isn't supported by the data. obesity is a public health problem and it's not caused simply by junk food

Japan and South Korea. Much of southern Europe. It depends how you define healthy, but most of Europe has obesity rates below 20%. And that's just if you're counting rich countries.

Re: GLP-1 drugs: An economic disruptor? (2024)

#469
post #463
post #19

I started Tirzepatide 3-4 weeks ago. (Mostly as an experiment to understand the hype around GLP's... I don't have diabetes and only very slightly overweight at 20% body fat). Even at the lowest 2.5mg starter dose which you're only allowed to stay on for 1 month: - Extreme appetite suppression to the point where I've started calorie counting specifically to make sure that I'm eating enough. It's incredibly easy to for…

Awesome stuff. Envious, here (NL) its impossible to get a prescription. For an alternative approach for comparison: My wife and I eat low carb and fast every other day for a year now. Around the 2nd month mark we got the exactly same outcome: food became a chore. We sometimes dont eat for 2-3 days when travelling or busy. I dont remember feeling hungry in about a year. We do sports - I sure have less peak power, but…

That sounds very intriguing, are you a bit concerned about the dropping vo2max ? Do you eat a lot more meat than before?

Re: GLP-1 drugs: An economic disruptor? (2024)

#470
post #415

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>it's likely underweight. The only way this can possibly be correct is if you think that the "correct" weight is whatever the population average happens to be which is just...wild to me. If we assume commenter is male (a statistical likelihood), then 20% is the high end of normal, and could very safely be halved. In the less likely case that they are female, then it is right in the middle of the normal range, and cou…

> The only way this can possibly be correct is if you think that the "correct" weight is whatever the population average happens to be which is just...wild to me. The medical definition of overweight is basically if you're some number of standard deviations above the average from whenever they ran the stats, so population average = correct weight seems like as reasonable a standard.

I tried to find corroborating sources and couldn't, so take this for what it's worth, but Claude seems to think the cutoffs are based on epedmiological evidence for health impacts at various BMIs, which, even if that _wasn't_ how it was arrived at, seems like a better option.
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