Concern over weight gain after 'skinny jabs'

A health watchdog said that people coming off the drugs should be offered 'structured advice and follow-up support' to help prevent weight gain.

Health chiefs have raised concerns about people regaining weight after using Wegovy and Mounjaro, saying that patients coming off the drugs should be given support to help prevent them piling on the pounds again.

Research shows that many people regain weight after stopping treatment if they are not supported, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) said.

The health watchdog said that people coming off the drugs should be offered "structured advice and follow-up support" to help prevent weight gain.

The guidance is for people who are offered the treatments through Britain's NHS.

An estimated 1.5 million people are taking weight loss jabs in Britain, but the vast majority are paying for them privately so will not be eligible for NHS support after they have finished their treatment.

The new "quality standard" from Nice says that NHS patients should be monitored for at least a year after they complete treatment, and extra support should be offered if needed.

It emphasises building "long-term behavioural habits, use self-monitoring tools, and draw on wider support — from online communities to family-led interventions and local activities".

"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.

Dr Rebecca Payne, chair of Nice's Quality Standards Advisory Committee, added: "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.

"We've seen excellent examples of services that already provide comprehensive discharge planning and ongoing support.

"This quality standard will help ensure all healthcare providers adopt these best practices, giving every person the best chance of maintaining their weight management success over the long term.

Henry Gregg, chief executive of the National Pharmacy Association, said: "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 to make their weight loss sustainable."

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Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chairwoman of the Royal College of GPs, said: "There is no one-size-fits-all approach to tackling obesity — what works for one patient will likely not work for another and, as with any medication, weight-loss drugs do not come without risk.

"It's also the case that patients will likely need support to sustain their weight loss once they stop taking the medication. As such, this is important and sensible guidance from Nice.

"As a college, we've been clear that whilst weight loss medications have significant potential benefits for patients who are struggling to lose weight, they mustn't be seen as a 'silver bullet' and ensuring access to sufficient 'wraparound' services — particularly for when patients come off their medication — will be key to optimal health outcomes."