Should you feel ashamed using weight-loss injections?

Jump to: Obesity stigma | Obesity is a disease | Taking weight-loss injections isn’t cheating | Weight-loss injections aren’t a magic pill

No, you shouldn’t feel ashamed about using weight-loss injections. Weight-loss injections are an effective tool that can help people feel less hungry, lose weight, and focus on other areas of their lives without the constant ‘food noise’.

Obesity stigma

People living with obesity already experience high levels of stigma due to their condition. There’s a common misconception that obesity is due to laziness, gluttony, and a lack of self-control.

Research has shown that obesity stigma can exacerbate the complications associated with the condition, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and stroke.

This pre-existing stigma likely plays into the mindset of those who are critical of the use of weight-loss drugs like Mounjaro and Wegovy (Ozempic).

The argument is that because obesity is a ‘self-inflicted’ condition, using medication to treat it is simply evidence of their inherent laziness and lack of self-control.

However, the World Health Organization has defined obesity as a disease since the 1930s, and more prominent researchers support the notion that it should be defined as a disease to encourage individuals to seek proper treatment.

Obesity is a disease

Obesity has multifactorial causes involving genetic, biological, behavioural, and environmental factors that go beyond individual choices. This aligns with the definition of disease as having specific pathophysiological processes.

So, if obesity is a disease and not a matter of personal choice in most circumstances, then there’s no shame in receiving pharmaceutical treatment to support the management or potential reversal of the condition.

As a society, we don’t shame people for taking cancer medication despite the majority of cancer being linked to lifestyle and obesity (e.g. over 70% of lung cancer is due to smoking).

As a society, we don’t shame people living with type 2 diabetes who take insulin despite the majority of type 2 diabetes being linked to lifestyle and obesity.

If we’re being consistent as a society, then we shouldn’t shame people for taking weight-loss medications. We should celebrate their proactiveness and initiative to try and do something about it.

Taking weight-loss injections isn’t cheating

A part of the common stigma associated with individuals using weight-loss injections is the perception that they’re inherently ‘cheating’.

The argument is that all people need to do is eat less, move more, and use their willpower and they’ll lose weight.

But as discussed above, our ability to manage our eating habits goes beyond the simple desire to be healthy. Very few people wish to cause themselves harm by overconsuming calories and gaining weight.

The traditional advice of ‘eat less, move more’ has been repeatedly proven to be ineffective for individuals living with obesity.

If we injured our leg playing sport, we’d visit a hospital or a physiotherapist to receive the proper treatment.

If we have a headache, most of us will probably grab a glass of water and take a painkiller.

So, no, using weight-loss injections isn’t cheating.

But weight-loss injections aren’t a magic pill

Weight-loss injections are most effective when combined with a healthier lifestyle. They can help kickstart weight loss while you commit to developing healthier habits.

Mounjaro and other weight loss injections, like Ozempic and Wegovy, can allow you to make lifestyle changes to support long-term weight loss.

These medications can help silence food-related thoughts and give you a boost of confidence with more immediate weight-loss results.

They can also buy you the time and headspace to understand why your body may have struggled to lose weight and build new long-term healthy habits.

The core focus of our medication programmes is to calm down the feeling of food noise, lower your cravings, and allow you to build healthier habits to keep the weight off for good.

The ultimate goal is to make losing weight feel second nature.

Second Nature’s medication programmes

Second Nature has two medication-supported programmes: a Wegovy weight-loss programme and a Mounjaro weight-loss programme.

If you’ve decided to try Wegovy or Mounjaro (assuming you’re eligible), why should you choose Second Nature over other medication providers?

For peace of mind.

Second Nature has worked with the NHS for over 6 years, providing weight-loss programmes across the UK.

While our Wegovy and Mounjaro weight-loss programmes are private and not currently used by the NHS, we’ve built the programmes focusing on scientific evidence, patient safety, and data security.

We hope that our 6+ years of working with the NHS and building a track record of effective weight-loss results will give you peace of mind to give us a try.