The British government announced on Wednesday that doctors in the state-run health service in England may soon be allowed to prescribe weight-loss drugs to more obese people, as part of a new pilot scheme.
The government hopes the two-year pilot program will help shorten overburdensome NHS waiting lists, given that obesity is a leading cause of severe health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer.
An official health survey in England in 2019 estimated that more than 12 million adults are obese, or 28% of the population, while another 16 million (36%) are overweight.
The government has tried to tackle obesity in recent years, introducing calorie labels to menus and restricting unhealthy food locations in stores.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said in a statement unveiling the new £40 million ($50 million) pilot project that "obesity is putting enormous pressure on the NHS".
Weigovi
"Using the latest drugs to help people lose weight will be a game-changer by helping to address serious health conditions associated with obesity," he said.
The move follows clinical trials that concluded that treatments could help obese adults lose up to 15 percent of their weight when prescribed along with improved diet, physical activity and behavioral support.
Earlier this year, the National Institute for Healthcare Excellence approved the appetite suppressant Wegovy, but limited its availability to specialized services that rely heavily on hospitals.
The pilot project involves people with a body mass index (BMI) of at least 35, with a weight-related health problem, such as diabetes or high blood pressure.
That makes about 35,<> people eligible for Wigovee.
The two-year pilot program could significantly expand access to these drugs to tens of thousands of other potential recipients, while others are undergoing clinical trials.
Sunak's office said the plan would explore "how approved medicines can be safely made available to more people by expanding specialist weight management services beyond the hospital."
This will include studying how GPs can safely prescribe weight-loss medications and how the NHS can provide on-the-ground support in the community or digitally, he said.