Weight Loss Injections – Important Update

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We’ve been receiving a high number of calls about weight loss injections. Please note that these treatments are only available on the NHS under very strict criteria.

At the moment, GPs can only prescribe weight loss injections to patients with:

🟢 Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or above

AND

🟢 diagnosed with 4 or more of the following health conditions:

🟢 High blood pressure (hypertension)

🟢 High cholesterol (dyslipidaemia)

🟢 Cardiovascular disease (e.g. stroke, heart attack, angina)

🟢 Obstructive sleep apnoea

🟢 Type 2 diabetes

If you do not meet both the BMI and medical conditions criteria above, GPs will not be able to prescribe this medication. We will be contacting eligible patients directly in due course, so please do not contact the surgery regarding it at this stage.

Please also be aware that you must have completed a formal weight management programme, such as the NHS Digital Weight Management Service or the Diabetes Prevention Programme, before we can prescribe.

There has been discussion that patients with a BMI between 35 and 39.9 may become eligible at some point next year, but only if they also have 4 or more of the above conditions. The NHS does plan to widen the criteria gradually, although exact timelines are not yet confirmed.

For further information, please visit: Weight Management | HWICS

and

Weight Management | NHS England

We appreciate your understanding.