Patients should be monitored for a year after stopping weight loss jabs to prevent them piling the pounds back on, new guidelines say.
The drugs’ watchdog is concerned about the number of people regaining weight after coming off the likes of Wegovy and Mounjaro.
They must now be offered ‘structured advice and follow-up support’ to help them maintain healthy lifestyles for the long-term, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) said.
Its guidance applies to everyone who obtains the treatments through the NHS in England and Wales – and healthcare workers are expected to comply immediately.
An estimated 1.5 million people are taking weight loss jabs in the UK but the vast majority are paying around £200 a month to obtain them privately.
Some 240,000 people with ‘greatest need’ are set to receive Mounjaro, also known as tirzepatide, through the NHS over the next three years.
The new ‘quality standard’ from Nice tells health providers they should monitor NHS patients for at least a year after they complete treatment and offer extra tailored support if needed.
It says: ‘This could include practical advice from programmes like NHS Better Health on changing daily habits or making adjustments at home or work to avoid slipping back.’
The guidance emphasises the need to establish ‘long-term behavioural habits’ and suggests the use of regular check-ins, community support groups, local activity classes, and help developing ‘sustainable routines’.
Studies found people injected with semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic, lost 14 per cent of their body weight over 72 weeks.
And those taking Mounjaro, known as the ‘king kong’ of weight-loss jabs, lost 20 per cent of their body weight over the the same period.
But research also shows that many people regain weight after stopping treatment if they do not get the right help.
Health officials say this can negatively affect their physical and mental health.
Professor Jonathan Benger, deputy chief executive and chief medical officer at Nice, said: ‘Successful weight management doesn’t end when medication stops or when someone completes a behavioural programme.
‘We know that the transition period after treatment is crucial, and people need structured support to maintain the positive changes they’ve made.
‘This new standard makes sure services provide that vital continuity of care, and it supports the NHS 10 Year Plan to shift from a “sickness service” to a genuine health service focused on prevention.’
In England, 29 per cent of adults are obese and 64 per cent or overweight or obese.
Obesity places extra pressure on the NHS and wider economy by increasing the risk type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancer and musculoskeletal problems.
Estimates suggest obesity costs the NHS £11.4 billion a year, with a wider economic impact of £74.3 billion due to lost productivity, unemployment and increased demand for social care.
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.
‘This standard ensures healthcare services are equipped to provide that essential ongoing support.’
Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chair 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.
‘We need to see a greater focus on prevention, stopping people becoming overweight in the first place so they don’t require a medical intervention later.’
Henry Gregg, chief executive of the National Pharmacy Association, said: ‘Pharmacies take their responsibilities seriously to provide full wrap around 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 to make their weight loss sustainable.
‘The current NHS roll out of weight loss treatment is very small, with only a handful of patients receiving it and it will continue to be the case that the vast majority of eligible patients will be seen by their pharmacy.’
