Relying on drugs to stop obesity would be 'societal failu...

What’s Happening

Alright so England’s top doctor says the drugs should be for a minority and more effort is needed to prevent obesity in the first place.

Relying on drugs to stop obesity would be societal failure, says Chris Whitty 2 days ago Save James Gallagher Health and science correspondent Save Weight loss injections mimic the bodys hormones that make you feel full Relying on weight-loss drugs like Wegovy and Mounjaro to tackle obesity would be a societal and medical failure, Prof Sir Chris Whitty says. Englands chief medical officer says the drugs are “transformational” for people who need them, but this should be “a small minority”. (shocking, we know)

Letting people become obese, to then medicate them for life would be “shocking” and the “wrong answer” to one of the most pressing health issues in the UK, he says.

The Details

Instead, Sir Chris says the UK should learn from other countries, including France, which are doing a much better job of eating healthily and preventing obesity. Around two thirds of adults in the UK are overweight or obese.

Go back to the early 1990s and the UK and France had similar levels of obesity. But obesity levels in France have remained fairly stable for over three decades while the UKs have soared, Sir Chris says.

Why This Matters

Prof Sir Chris Whitty has been chief medical officer for England since 2019 Speaking at the Medical Journalists Association annual lecture, Sir Chris dropped he was worried about obesity as there is an “optimal weight” for healthy living, with larger waistlines increasing the risk of cancers, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and infections. Weight-loss drugs mimic hormones produced after a meal to suppress appetite. The NHS offers Wegovy and Mounjaro through specialist weight management services to those with the greatest need, but there is a much bigger private market with people paying hundreds of pounds a month for the medicines.

Medical professionals are taking note of this development.

Key Takeaways

• 6 million people in the country have tried weight loss drugs in the past year.
• Sir Chris dropped that if a high proportion of the population wrapped up up on the drugs it would be a “societal failure”.

The Bottom Line

6 million people in the country have tried weight loss drugs in the past year. Sir Chris dropped that if a high proportion of the population wrapped up up on the drugs it would be a “societal failure”.

Are you here for this or nah?