The huge demand for new anti-obesity drugs is threatening to overwhelm the NHS, Streeting said

More than 200 doctors and medical experts have warned that unprecedented demand for new obesity drugs threatens to overwhelm the NHS.

In one joint letter To Health Minister Wes Streeting, healthcare professionals are calling for an urgent overhaul of services for millions of people struggling with weight.

The letter, coordinated by Obesity Health Alliance (OHA), said: “New pharmaceutical treatments have resulted in unprecedented public demand for treatment services and have placed enormous pressure on already overburdened commissioning structures. This has made action to address long-standing issues across the full scope of treatment services an immediate priority.”

The OHA points out that 4.1 million people in England are eligible for the weight-loss drug Wegovy, and yet the NHS estimates that fewer than 50,000 people a year will receive treatment by 2028, even with new funding.

The huge demand for the new drugs, which includes Mounjaro, has exposed problems with existing services, the letter said.

Katharine Jenner, chief executive of the OHA, said: “While the drugs are safe and effective to use, they only put further pressure on already overburdened services.”

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, she said: “Rather than being a miracle cure, as is often said, these weight-loss drugs so far have only highlighted the weaknesses in our current system.

“So we have all come together to say that we need urgent government action to make these services sustainable and equitable.”

The letter to Streeting states: “Our vision is a fully resourced system that provides equitable access to appropriate, tailored and sustainable support services for people who are overweight and obese. This means ensuring a consistent, equitable and evidence-based treatment pathway based on individual needs, providing appropriate person-centred support for all, in a non-stigmatising way.”

Some specialist obesity management services are so overstretched that they have closed their waiting lists completely, according to a report from the OHA launched alongside the letter.

It said: “Most people who are overweight or obese do not receive the recommended level of support from overweight and obesity management services. The provision of evidence-based services at all levels is insufficient and unavailable to a significant number of people.”

On Tuesday, Streeting and Prime Minister Keir Starmer suggested the rollout of the weight-loss jabs could help boost the country’s health as well as the economy.

Officials have announced plans for new studies to assess the impact of weight loss treatment on unemployment and the impact of obesity on the NHS.

A five-year study in Manchester will assess the ‘real-world effectiveness’ of Mounjaro, also known as tirzepatide.

Mounjaro, manufactured by Lilly, is being hailed as the king of weight loss shots after a previous study found that people taking the drug, along with support to make changes to exercise and diet, lost an average of 21% of their body weight over a period of time. of Period of 36 weeks.

NHS officials have suggested that the rollout of the drug will have to be staggered across England due to expected high demand.

The OHA said the phased access plan suggests the rollout will take place over 12 years “due to the cost implications and lack of primary care services to support access for all who qualify”.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said: “We are tackling the obesity crisis head-on – restricting junk food advertising on TV and online, along with a ban on the sale of high caffeine energy drinks to children under 16 .”

An NHS England spokesperson said: “With the huge number of people who may be eligible for these treatments and GP teams already making record numbers of appointments, the NHS is working with government and industry to develop new types of services, allowing approved treatments can be rolled out. safe, effective and affordable, without affecting the care of others.”