The British government announced that doctors in England's National Health Service (NHS) may soon be allowed to prescribe weight loss medications to a larger number of individuals suffering from obesity, as part of a new pilot scheme. The government hopes that the two-year pilot program will help reduce the overwhelming waiting lists in the NHS, as obesity is a major cause of severe health issues such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer. A 2019 official health survey estimated that more than 12 million adults in England suffer from obesity, which accounts for 28% of the population, while another 16 million (36%) are classified as overweight.
In recent years, the government has attempted to tackle the obesity issue by introducing calorie labels on menus and implementing restrictions related to the locations of unhealthy foods in stores. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, in a statement revealing the new pilot project costing £40 million ($50 million), stated that "obesity places enormous pressure on the NHS." The two-year pilot program could significantly expand access to these medications for tens of thousands of additional potential recipients, while other medications are undergoing clinical trials as part of this framework. Sunak's office indicated that the plan is exploring "how to safely make approved medications available to a larger number of people by expanding specialized weight management services outside the hospital setting."
