The NHS is restricting access to obesity services across England, with patients struggling to secure appointments for support and treatments, including weight loss injections.
The research shows that patients in nearly half the country are unable to get appointments with specialist teams for weight-loss support and care. In addition, in nearly one in five local health areas, patients don’t have access to a bariatric surgery service.
An investigation by the British Medical Journal (BMJ) gathered responses from all 42 of England’s Integrated Care Boards (ICBs). These are responsible for planning the health services for their local population, including weight loss services.
Just over half of the ICBs (24 out of the 42) commission both tier 3 and 4 adult weight loss services that cover their entire population and are accepting new referrals.
However more than one third of ICBs (15) reported problems with tier 3 services, with six saying they were currently closed to new patients. An additional seven said that they only covered part of the ICB’s catchment area and four said the ICB does not commission any services at this level.
Seven ICBs reported not providing a bariatric surgery service to patients in their area.
The government estimates that obesity costs the NHS in England around £6.5 billion a year. It is the second biggest preventable cause of cancer after smoking.
Obesity drugs in children
Another study recently found that an obesity drug lowered the BMI and blood pressure in children as young as six.
Children aged six to 12 using the Novo Nordisk injectable pens for more than a year saw a 7.4% reduction in their body-mass index compared with those on a placebo.
Participants taking the medicine also saw improvements in blood pressure and blood glucose control, researchers said.
To date, children have had virtually no options for treating obesity,’ said lead researcher Professor Claudia Fox, of the University of Minnesota Medical School in Minneapolis.
‘They have been told to “try harder” with diet and exercise.
‘Now with the possibility of a medication that addresses the underlying physiology of obesity, there is hope that children living with obesity can live healthier, more productive lives.’
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