Weight gain warning: NHS support urged after skinny jabs

People coming off weight loss jabs should be offered special support to prevent regaining weight, experts said (Alamy/PA) PA Media

Health chiefs have raised concerns about people regaining weight after using popular "skinny jabs" Wegovy and Mounjaro. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) says patients coming off the drugs should receive support to prevent them piling on the pounds again.

Research shows that many people regain weight after stopping treatment if they are not supported, Nice said. The health watchdog has issued new guidance stating that people coming off the drugs should be offered "structured advice and follow-up support" to help prevent weight gain.

NHS patients to receive monitoring

The guidance applies to people who receive the treatments through the NHS. An estimated 1.5 million people are taking weight loss jabs in the UK, but the vast majority are paying for them privately and will not be eligible for NHS support after finishing treatment.

Around 240,000 people with "greatest need" are expected to receive Mounjaro, also known as tirzepatide, through the NHS over the next three years. The new "quality standard" from Nice says NHS patients should be monitored for at least a year after completing treatment.

Long-term behavioural changes emphasised

Extra support should be offered if needed, with emphasis on building "long-term behavioural habits, use self-monitoring tools, and draw on wider support - from online communities to family-led interventions and local activities". This standard sets out expectations for health providers in England and Wales, including how they should support patients.

"Successful weight management doesn't end when medication stops or when someone completes a behavioural programme," said Professor Jonathan Benger, deputy chief executive and chief medical officer at Nice. "We know that the transition period after treatment is crucial, and people need structured support to maintain the positive changes they've made."

Support for NHS transformation goals

The new standard supports the NHS 10 Year Plan to shift from a "sickness service" to a genuine health service focused on prevention. Dr Rebecca Payne, chair of Nice's Quality Standards Advisory Committee, said weight management is "a long-term journey, not a short-term fix".

"The evidence is clear that advice and support for maintaining weight after stopping medicines or completing behavioural interventions can help prevent weight regain and enable people to experience lasting benefits," Payne added. She said the standard would help ensure all healthcare providers adopt best practices.

Pharmacy and GP perspectives

Henry Gregg, chief executive of the National Pharmacy Association, said pharmacies take their responsibilities seriously to provide support to patients trying to achieve a healthy weight. "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," he said.

Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chairwoman of the Royal College of GPs, emphasised there is no one-size-fits-all approach to tackling obesity. "It's also the case that patients will likely need support to sustain their weight loss once they stop taking the medication," she said, calling the guidance "important and sensible".

(PA) Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.