Over 200 clinicians are calling for an urgent review of obesity treatment services in England in response to an “unprecedented public demand” for new pharmaceutical therapies. 

Doctors are warning that the introduction of new obesity drugs is placing “immense pressure” on an already overstretched NHS in England. The call comes in the wake of Secretary of State Wes Streeting’s announcement of a £280m investment in developing new weight loss medicines to help the unemployed back into work. 

A report from the Obesity Health Alliance (OHA), a coalition of 60 health charities and medical royal colleges, urges the Government to take immediate action by implementing the following measures:

Currently, 4.1 million people in England are eligible for the weight loss drug Wegovy, the report says. However, NHS projections estimate that by 2028, fewer than 50,000 people per year will receive treatment, even with new funding. The upcoming NICE approval of tirzepatide for treating obesity will place additional pressure on the system. 

In a letter to Mr Streeting, members of the OHA urged the Government to prioritise long-standing issues, including chronic underfunding, workforce challenges and unequal access to obesity services. They stress that addressing these challenges is critical to reducing long-term sickness and supporting economic growth.

Colette Marshall, chief executive of Diabetes UK, commented: “Weight management support that is both properly funded and accessible would make a massive difference to the long-term health of people at risk of, and living with, type 2 diabetes.

“Many people with diabetes tell us there’s not enough support and they are often shamed and disrespected when trying to access what is available. This report clearly spells out what the Government and healthcare system should do.”

Alfie Slade of the Obesity Health Alliance added: “The new weight loss drugs represent a breakthrough in treatment, giving hope to the millions of people struggling to manage their weight, but they also expose the weaknesses in our current obesity services. Without urgent government intervention, we will fail to meet the needs of millions of patients, leading to greater health inequalities.”

The report says the UK is seeing “a tidal wave of unprecedented demand” that cannot be met with the resources currently available, forcing clinicians to ration life-changing treatments. The new weight loss injections should be given to those who most need them, together with wrap-around specialist weight management support, it concludes.