Healthcare teams should monitor people for at least a year after they complete weight management treatment and provide extra support if needed, according to new guidance issued today by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
The recommendations come as weight loss medications, such as semaglutide (Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro), are now available on the NHS in GP practices for those with the greatest need. Around 240,000 people are expected to be offered tirzepatide over the next three years.
According to NICE, research shows that without ongoing help, many people regain weight after treatment, impacting both their physical and mental health.
The new guidance aims to address this gap by setting out clear expectations for healthcare providers.
Related Article: Warning issued after non-sterile wipes linked to infection outbreak
As well as monitoring people for at least a year, teams are advised to provide tailored action plans, regular check-ins, practical strategies for sustaining weight loss, and links to community support.
This could include online access to the NHS Better Health platform, working with a dietitian or nutritionist to create an actionable plan, and signposting to local peer support such as fitness or walking groups.
Professor Jonathan Benger, deputy chief executive and chief medical officer at NICE, said:
‘Successful weight management doesn’t end when medication stops or when someone completes a behavioural programme.
‘We know that the transition period after treatment is crucial, and people need structured support to maintain the positive changes they’ve made.’
The updated standard replaces three previous standards to reflect the most up-to-date thinking on how to tackle overweight and obesity through the health system.
As well as continuity of care, it highlights the importance of helping people to build long-term behavioural habits, use self-monitoring tools, and access wider support
Professor Benger said: ‘This new standard makes sure services provide that vital continuity of care, and it supports the NHS 10 year plan to shift from a “sickness service” to a genuine health service focused on prevention.’
In England, 29% of adults are living with obesity and 64% are classified as overweight or obese, according to data from NHS Digital.
Related Article: Pharmacy owners can now register for new children’s flu jab service
Current government estimates suggest obesity costs the NHS £11.4bn a year, with a wider economic impact of £74.3bn due to lost productivity, unemployment and increased demand for social care.
Henry Gregg, chief executive of the National Pharmacy Association (NPA), described obesity as ‘one of the biggest health challenges of our generation’, and insisted that ‘pharmacies take their responsibilities seriously to provide full wraparound support to patients trying to achieve a healthy weight’.
Mr Gregg said: ‘We know that although medication can be effective in speeding up weight loss in some people, it is not a silver bullet and patients need to make long term lifestyle changes to make their weight loss sustainable.’
He added: ‘The current NHS roll out of weight loss treatment is very small, with only a handful of patients receiving it and it will continue to be the case that the vast majority of eligible patients will be seen by their pharmacy.
Related Article: Mental health prescribing in England reaches new high, NHSBSA report reveals
‘If the government wants to scale up the NHS roll out to help more patients, they should use the massive skills and expertise of pharmacies and fund them to reach millions more of those most in need of help.’
Last month, the NPA warned that the growing demand for weight loss jabs was becoming unsustainable.
As of 23 June, patients can access tirzepatide (Mounjaro) through their GP practices, provided they meet the eligibility criteria. But pharmacy bodies warned it was ‘unlikely’ that planned provision for weight loss jabs on the NHS will meet demand and therefore ‘many people’ will continue seeking the medication from a pharmacy.
Keep your clinical knowledge up to date with The Pharmacist
Extend your learning and record your learning outcomes
Have your say
Please add your comment in the box below. You can include links, but HTML is not permitted. Please note that comments are not moderated before publication and the views expressed are those of the user and do not reflect the views of The Pharmacist. Remember that submission of comments is governed by our Terms and Conditions. You can also read our full guidelines on article comments here – but please be aware that you are legally liable for any libellous or offensive comments that you make. If you have a complaint about a comment or are concerned that a comment breaches our terms and conditions, please use the ‘Report this comment’ function to alert our web team.