this post was submitted on 22 Aug 2025
-1 points (45.5% liked)

Public Health

1012 readers
77 users here now

For issues concerning:


๐Ÿฉบ This community has a broader scope so please feel free to discuss. When it may not be clear, leave a comment talking about why something is important.



Related Communities

See the pinned post in the Medical Community Hub for links and descriptions. link (!medicine@lemmy.world)


Rules

Given the inherent intersection that these topics have with politics, we encourage thoughtful discussions while also adhering to the mander.xyz instance guidelines.

Try to focus on the scientific aspects and refrain from making overly partisan or inflammatory content

Our aim is to foster a respectful environment where we can delve into the scientific foundations of these topics. Thank you!

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
top 13 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[โ€“] Blueshift@piefed.world 6 points 1 day ago

There is scepticism about the timing of the tennis star's recent transparency - she has just become a spokesperson for Ro, a company which sells GLP-1 brands like Wegovy and Zepbound (known as Mounjaro in the UK) through its weight-loss programme, and her husband is also an investor.

This tells you all you need to know

[โ€“] jet@hackertalks.com 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Is there any stigma for weight loss drugs?

People who know and talk to you only care that your life is improving.

[โ€“] sabreW4K3@lazysoci.al 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Yeah, I hear people talking about the side effects all the time.

[โ€“] jet@hackertalks.com 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Talking about the side effects is not stigma

There are serious side effects to these inhibitor drugs. Diet is far more effective. It's a dangerous path to go on, it usually degrades muscle mass and skeletal mass at the end of treatment. These drugs can't be persisted forever. Somebody coming off of these drugs absolutely needs to have nutritionally healthy eating habits, and many people are not learning those while they're on the drugs

None of this is stigma, these are all just parts of the treatment evaluation. If somebody chooses to go on these drugs, I support them. I want them to have the best version of themselves they can.

[โ€“] sabreW4K3@lazysoci.al 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

@otter@lemmy.ca if you ever consider adding another mod, please consider Jet. He adds high quality engagement to this community of which I'm always grateful for.

[โ€“] otter@lemmy.ca 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I'm open to it! @jet@hackertalks.com let me know if you'd like to be made a mod. On that note, I should also clean up the sidebars since some links are now out of date

[โ€“] jet@hackertalks.com 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Sure! I'm happy to pitch in.

[โ€“] FatLegTed@piefed.social 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

I don't think should be freely available because (as a lifelong porker that knows you need to change your lifestyle and has aways struggled), people are not changing. They are branded as miracle cures. Well, I've got news for you pal, there is NO CURE!

Women at work are using them and telling me they can still eat all they want!

People need to be supported and educated. Sadly that's not going to happen.

[โ€“] sabreW4K3@lazysoci.al 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I can't speak for everyone, but as someone who was prescribed oral semaglutide, I'm always baffled by such exclamations. If I eat too much or too little, I've overcome by nausea and acid reflux. It forced me to address my portion sizes.

I was also lucky enough to pick up a new phone around the same time that came with a watch and so it was easy to start tracking my steps, which then motivated me to start going for daily walks to meet my modest step goals. That evolved into me setting new personal aspirations and being regimented about a calorie deficit. I had the NHS pushing and prodding me and couldn't have done it without their support.

That trifecta of the semaglutide, the watch/Fitbit and the NHS support were the miracle cure. It's not a one size fits all thing. But if I could, I would recommend that the government gave watches and Fitbit to everyone.

[โ€“] FatLegTed@piefed.social 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

'But if I could, I would recommend that the government gave watches and Fitbit to everyone.' That would be preferable to handing it out here there and everywhere.

I'm not knocking you - you understand the process and know all to well that it affects different people in different ways. As I say, educating people is the key. Stop all the fast food ads on TV etc. Get people eating more healthily and pushing supermarkets to do the same. They won't do it out of the goodness of their hearts.

Some of us just need more pushing than others ;-)

[โ€“] sabreW4K3@lazysoci.al 2 points 1 day ago

It's not even just the fast food adverts. It's also knowing that processed food is a burden on the healthcare system and that organic foods ease that burden. The government should be taxing what is effectively slow acting poison to the point it's not very profitable while also ensuring organic food is as cheap as possible.

But yeah, education and support are vital and we need people to those educators and supporters to know that one size doesn't fit all. Different people need different approaches to their support and education.