Weight-loss drugs predicted to save airlines millions

[jakeseven7]

On AFF we often discuss overweight passengers and their impact on fellow passengers comfort who are seated next to them, and controversial ‘passengers should be weighed too’ posts.

So thought this was a very interesting take on a possible ‘side effect’ of the huge take up of Ozempic and other similar weight loss drugs.


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Weight-loss drugs estimated to save airlines millions​

Airlines and planemakers obsess about reducing jet fuel consumption by constantly finding new ways to reduce aircraft weight. They may have new allies in Ozempic and other similar slimming medications.

United Airlines would save $US80 million ($124.5 million) a year if the average passenger weight falls by 4.5 kilograms, Sheila Kahyaoglu, a Jefferies financial analyst, estimated in a report last week.

Weight is a major concern for airlines because the more a plane weighs, the more fuel it burns. Fuel and labour are the two largest expenses for carriers, with fuel accounting for about 25 per cent

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention says one in three adults and one in five children are obese, or have a body mass index of 30 or higher for adults.

Full article:

Weight-loss drugs estimated to save airlines millions

If the average airline passenger lost 4.5 kilos, it would trim more than 800 kilograms from every flight, implying savings of 27.6 million gallons of jet-fuel a year.

www.theage.com.au

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

NOT PC.
There was an article that said Obese should get a free seat next to them.
I do so hate man touching, esp the person who overtly wants to let their body touch mine on a flight.
Hey dude, I am not leanupon man, man.

 

[drron]

But will they keep it off?
Previous experience suggests as soon as they go off the drug the wait will return as their lifestyle really hasn’t changed.

I have done my bit for the airline industry having lost 5.5 times 4.5 Kg.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Then there’s this (American influencers course)

https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/give-overweight-people-free-plane-seats-says-influencer-jaelynn-chaney/news-story/0e6b5c83cd6088cc036c06b6292de2a4

 

[SYD]

Then there’s this (American influencers course)

https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/give-overweight-people-free-plane-seats-says-influencer-jaelynn-chaney/news-story/0e6b5c83cd6088cc036c06b6292de2a4

I thought most Nth Am airlines already require larger PAX to buy a 2nd seat - although that’s much harder to track now with OLCI and 99.9% doing HLO….

 

[jakeseven7]

Then there’s this (American influencers course)

https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/give-overweight-people-free-plane-seats-says-influencer-jaelynn-chaney/news-story/0e6b5c83cd6088cc036c06b6292de2a4

Yeah nah…

 

[Must...Fly!]

Previous experience suggests as soon as they go off the drug the wait will return as their lifestyle really hasn’t changed.

Exactly. Those searching for the quick fix stuff aren't seeking to change their habits and lifestyle, just appearance. Probably for good reasons, but ultimately once off these drugs the weight will probably just go right back on.

I am personally a fan of doing it the hard way. Discipline with diet and exercise, whatever you can manage. I lost a lot of weight as well @drron and did it the hard way. I had youth on my side, I was always overweight until I realised, I guess, that I didn't have to be in my first year or so of uni. Lost about 20-25kg in a matter of months and have kept it off for almost 15 years now.

It's an interesting story re savings for airlines but the reality is the headline number will never be that high. You could also argue, that if the airline removed all catering equipment, they would save a similar amount of money in fuel (plus the cost of the equipment itself). But that isn't going to happen when it's buy on board, is it!

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Put an extra few holes in waist belt, and then tighten it as close as possible without axphisiating your self, job done.

 

[Lynda2475]

Noting that plenty of people who lose weight the hard way also put it back on.

It is interesting thought that in Australia access to weight loss drugs is pretty much limited to those who already have type 2 diabetes (unlike in other countries). There is an argument to be made that helping the obese who have yet to develop diabetes lose weight before they do would be lower cost in the long run.

 

[Forg]

Exactly. Those searching for the quick fix stuff aren't seeking to change their habits and lifestyle, just appearance.

Well … and health.

I am personally a fan of doing it the hard way. Discipline with diet and exercise, whatever you can manage.

There have been magical weight-loss drugs coming which will work magically, ever since at probably about age 7 I realised I was fat. So … 45-odd years.
It ain’t happened yet.

Losing weight & keeping it off & staying healthy is a terrible thing. You suffer for, what, about 5%-7% of your waking day, with the purpose of maybe living 10% longer … a promise for stuff in future which may or may not happen. Keeping motivated is difficult, no wonder people invent fairy stories about exercise releasing endorphins … go ‘til you puke, the only positive feeling you’ll ever have is relief when you stop, no invented happy brain chemicals.

 

[oz_mark]

Then there’s this (American influencers course)

https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/give-overweight-people-free-plane-seats-says-influencer-jaelynn-chaney/news-story/0e6b5c83cd6088cc036c06b6292de2a4

Pretty sure I saw something about her taking on hotels over corridor widths, lift doors, toilets and so on...

Update: Found this Plus-size influencer who petitioned for free, extra plane seats now calls on hotels to enlarge hallways

 

[mrsterryn]

I have been fat since my teens. I am now well into my sixties. Still fat, name a magical fat loss medication and I lay odds I have tried it.
The current miracle drugs are being limited to those for type II diabetes as that is what they were designed and in Aus approved for , that is why currently they are being restricted. Note until the restrictions came in they could have a script but had to pay full price as in not under the PBS.

The various manufacturers are having issues in keeping up with the requests for the medication, especially now since social media has shown that these medications help a lot of people with weight loss .

When I fly economy I do tend to have a fat seat purchased as well. That way I feel comfortable.

Premium, business and first all fine with just one seat

 

[Lynda2475]

A good friend of mine was diagnosed with Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA) at age 46. It colloquially known as diabetes type 1.5.

Type 1 diabetics get their medication covered by PBS and Type 2 Diabetics get both diabetes drugs (insulin, metformin) and weight loss drugs like Ozempic subsidized. But as a type 1.5 who isnt insulin dependent you cant get Ozempic or any other weightloss drugs to help manage your condition on the PBS.

Wegovy is a lower dose of Ozempic specifically for weightloss in non diabetics. Whist I dont think this should be on the PBS, if obese people want to use it and are willing to pay full price why shouldnt they be allowed? As this dosage isnt designed for diabetics they arent creating a shortage; and are potentially preventing becoming a type 2 diabetic by which stage they are needing PBS help.

If you are too big to fit in an airplane seat yes I think you should buy a neighbour free seat and not impact your seat neighbour. But i also think there needs to be a minimum width for Y legislated, not just because people are generally fatter these days but many have shoulders too wide for some of the smaller seats and you cant lose wight from your shoulders.

 

[mrsterryn]

Wegovy is a lower dose of Ozempic specifically for weightloss in non diabetics. Whist I dont think this should be on the PBS, if obese people want to use it and are willing to pay full price why shouldnt they be allowed? As this dosage isnt designed for diabetics they arent creating a shortage; and are potentially preventing becoming a type 2 diabetic by which stage they are needing PBS help.

This actually states isn't in Australia yet .

 

[Forg]

Wegovy is a lower dose of Ozempic specifically for weightloss in non diabetics. Whist I dont think this should be on the PBS, if obese people want to use it and are willing to pay full price why shouldnt they be allowed?

There are few drugs without side-effects which can be nasty ... refer Oxycontin.

Especially with something so many people would want, weight-loss drugs would be a gold mine if anyone came up with safe ones. I'm not sure anyone's entirely convinced of the safety of whatever's going around at the moment - trade an obesity problem for, I dunno, kidney cancer next year.

 

[Lynda2475]

I think there is a difference between opioids which are proven to be addictive and drugs that work to lower blood sugar. At the rates the yanks are consuming it, in a year or two we will have terabytes of real world data.

In Australia if you are obese and haven't been able to lose weight by diet and exercise alone, many are pushed to get gastric sleeve surgery which has its own side effects, someone i know got a heart murmur as a result. I'm not sure removing most of your stomach is a good idea, you lose weight as it heals basically by starving yourself and can end up thinner but malnourished as later you cant eat enough good foods to get all your crucial nutrients.

Whilst Wegovy and Mounjaro aren't offered for obesity here, some doctors are still giving Ozempic to non diabetics, money talks. Some people sugar load to get a fake a Type 2 diagnosis. I just find the discrimination for type 1.5 diabetics puzzling.

I guess my point is, we focus on treatment after the fact and perhaps need to look at better helping people drop excess weight before they end up with type 2.

 

[Forg]

^ I think taking a drug to lose weight is also in the “focus on the treatment after the fact” category, though.

 

[drron]

But even people who have bariatric surgery don't always keep the weight off or don't lose it in the first place. I have looked after several failures after the surgery. Anyone having that surgery needs a psychological assessment first.
2 that I remember very well. First drank chocolate milkshakes all day. The second lived on mashed potato. Each serving with a block of melted butter. I was referred those 2 to investigate why they weren't losing weight.

 

[pauly7]

Reviewing some clinicals around Ozempic and similars of the world - looks like after a couple of years most people discontinue use and on average about 75% of the weight comes back (this is the non diabetic population mind you).

So the airlines hoping to save millions might be 75% off on their forecast

 

[MARTINE]

Put an extra few holes in waist belt, and then tighten it as close as possible without axphisiating your self, job done.

Akin to the free facelift. Just tell everyone you are ten years older. Be prepared for pain if they say ‘yeh you look about (insert number here)’ as opposed to ‘wot! You look ten years younger’