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Weight loss drugs shouldn’t create ‘dependency culture’, says Health Secretary (www.standard.co.uk)

submitted 2 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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The availability of weight loss drugs on the NHS doesn’t mean people can give up healthy lifestyles, Health Secretary Wes Streeting has warned.

Experts believe drugs like Ozempic will play an important role in tackling the UK’s obesity crisis.

But Mr Sweeting told the Daily Telegraph it was in “everyone’s interest to play their part” and avoid overloading the health system.

“We don’t want to encourage a dependency culture where people think it’s OK not to bother eating healthily or exercising, because the NHS will pick up the tab and pay for their weight loss jab,” he said.

“People in this country have the right to expect top quality healthcare, but also a responsibility to look after their own health, so we’ve got to get the balance right.”

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[–] [email protected] 14 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

From what I've read, GLP1 drugs can change how your brain thinks about food, and can cure the "addiction" to high sugar/fat foods. They're even being investigated for other addictions. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1043661824002573

[–] ghen 10 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

I'm taking wegovy, it's exactly this. I don't walk into the kitchen and open the refrigerator anymore. I'm building new habits that will stay with me without the drug, and I'm building new daily frameworks around food that I can look back on later without the drug. The change was immediate, in the first week, but building habits takes a while.

My food addiction stems from having periods of food scarcity in my past and current troubles getting good quality foods. I think it's something that doctors will be able to dial in later as to which psychological problems the drugs can help with best.

I also think that pairing this drug with therapy would be amazing as a therapist could help their patient reflect on the changes that are happening and give them the tools to build new habits while the drug is in effect