For the launch of the Obesity Health Alliance’s “Treatment of Overweight and Obesity Position Statement & Evidence Review”, over 200 NHS healthcare professionals have written to the Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting MP. The OHA are calling for an urgent comprehensive review of overweight and obesity treatment services across England, in response to longstanding issues with these services, and an unprecedented public demand for new pharmaceutical treatments.
Over 200 doctors and specialists have now raised concerns, warning that the introduction of these new obesity drugs is placing ‘immense pressure’ on the already overstretched NHS services in England. The call comes in the wake of a new report from the Obesity Health Alliance (OHA)[1], a coalition of 60 health charities and medical royal colleges, which underscores the urgent need for “pragmatic solutions” to address gaps in care, reduce health inequalities, and prevent long-term conditions such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and various cancers.
In its report, the OHA is urging the government to take immediate action by implementing the following measures:
- Conduct a full review of existing NHS obesity services to identify current challenges and present an economic case for expanding access to treatment.
- Introduce urgent NHS interventions to help clinicians prioritise access to weight-loss drugs, as demand continues to surge.
- Ensure every Integrated Care System (ICS) provides comprehensive obesity treatment services, eliminating the current “postcode lottery”.
- Develop new weight-loss support strategies tailored to groups that are traditionally underrepresented in existing services, including older men and individuals from ethnic minority backgrounds.
Currently, 4.1 million people in England are eligible for the weight-loss drug Wegovy. 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 treatment of obesity is expected to place additional pressure on the system, with NHS England saying it could take up to 12 years to implement the draft recommendations under the current conditions.
In a letter to Wes Streeting MP, the Secretary of State for Health & Social Care, members of the OHA have urged the government to prioritise the 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, said:
“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, Government Affairs Lead at the Obesity Health Alliance, commented:
“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.”
Dr Sarah Williams, NHS clinician, added:
“We’re seeing a tidal wave of unprecedented demand that we simply cannot meet with the resources currently available. The government needs to act now to make obesity services more equitable and sustainable. Clinicians are in a difficult position, having to ration life-changing treatments due to overwhelming demand.”
Sarah Le Brocq, the Obesity Health Alliance’s Expert Member on Lived Experience and Founder of All About Obesity, said:
“People living with obesity have faced years of obstacles just to access basic healthcare. Now, with new medications available to support weight and health management, it’s essential that these treatments are accessible to everyone who is eligible. We need immediate government support to fund and strengthen NHS infrastructure to meet the demand and ensure equitable access to these treatments.”
Mark Thompson, a Lived Experience Ambassador, shared his personal perspective:
“As someone who has struggled with obesity for years, I know firsthand the barriers to accessing effective treatment. The postcode lottery is real – where you live shouldn’t determine whether you get help or not. We need a fairer system for everyone.”
[1] Obesity Health Alliance Treatment of Overweight and Obesity Position Statement & Evidence Review
Image Credit: World Obesity Image Bank