Weight loss via medication may not be healthy

DEAR ANNIE >> My sister, “Claire,” is getting married this summer and has lost weight by getting injections of drugs for diabetes. Claire might have had a little padding, but

I never thought of her as being fat. And Claire is not the only person I know who is taking these drugs for weight loss. I know several others, and they all seem to be very happy with the results. The two brands that I keep hearing about are Ozempic and Wegovy.

Claire lost 10 pounds in the first few weeks of getting the shots, and she keeps losing weight every week. Her doctor gave her a prescription to Wegovy because her BMI was in the obese category, even though, as I say, to me she did not look obese. Now she has dropped another 40 pounds, and she is starting to look like a skeleton.

I asked my doctor about this popular new form of weight loss. Instead of talking about these drugs as weight loss aids, he told me that there is an epidemic of obesity in our country, where more than 40% of the population is statistically obese. But I did not ask him to prescribe the drugs for me, and he did not offer to do so. According to my BMI of 20, I am in the “healthy” category. I enjoy exercising three or four times a week and don’t want to be dependent on any drug.

My husband has been lifting weights for many years and has lots of muscles, which he says weigh more than fat. Yet his BMI says he is obese, and he says I should ignore the BMI as a measurement of obesity. He says body fat percentage is a much better indicator of health and fitness.

Claire is in great spirits, and I don’t want to discourage her since she feels so good about her weight loss. But the whole thing scares me — the idea of taking diabetes injections to drop a few pounds. What is your advice?

— Without Drugs

DEAR WITHOUT DRUGS >> I love the way you signed your letter. You are literally doing it without drugs, and we all know that is a much healthier approach to losing weight than taking regular injections of drugs designed for coping with diabetes. Your regular exercise and, I suspect, healthy eating habits are something you can enjoy every day of your life. Imagine waking up knowing that you have to give yourself an injection so you can “look healthy.” I wouldn’t want that, and I’m glad you wouldn’t either.

DEAR ANNIE >> A marriage is like a flower. If it doesn’t get its basics needs met, it eventually dies. This can take a very long time if you really loved someone, but once it is dead, there is no revival

— Water Your Plants

DEAR PLANTS >> What we put in is what we get out. For those in a relationship who think the grass is greener on the other side, it almost never is. In fact, the grass is greenest where you water it.

DEAR ANNIE >> I have been living with my boyfriend, 34, and his brother, 35, for a few months now while I am searching for an apartment. So far, it has not been going well. It seems as if my boyfriend and I get into an argument every day about small stuff. He will raise his voice and then tell me he isn’t raising his voice at me.

My biggest issue right now is the way he and his brother talk about women. They literally wake up and talk about how much they hate the “modern” woman. They cite a laundry list of the things women need to do to better themselves. After I told them that I disliked those comments, I was scolded and told that I could leave if I don’t like the way they speak.

My boyfriend’s behavior and views have made me rethink our relationship. I am in a weird place because I am technically homeless. What should I do? — Feeling Offended

DEAR FEELING OFFENDED

>> His sexist views of women are off-putting and outdated, to say the least. It is understandable that you are offended by these comments; in fact, it would be surprising if you weren’t. Keep asserting yourself and expressing your dislike for his comments. Stand up for what you know is right. If he continues to scold you, it might be wise to put more urgency into your search for a new apartment.

I am sorry that you are homeless. It does put you in an uncomfortable and vulnerable situation, but that doesn’t mean that you have to put up with his abuse.