UK Warned Against Overreliance on Weight-Loss Drugs Like Ozempic to Combat Obesity
The UK government has been warned against relying on weight-loss drugs to tackle the obesity crisis. National Food Strategy author Henry Dimbleby raised those worries during a keynote speech at the Rowett Institute, University of Aberdeen, on November 6, as pronounced by using The Grocer
Dimbleby criticized the potential approach of the incoming Labour government, suggesting it might avoid implementing critical measures like high-fat, sugar, or salt (HFSS) health taxes in favor of relying on appetite-suppressing drugs. He warned that such a strategy could result in millions of people depending on medication, imposing further financial and logistical burdens on the already strained National Health Service (NHS).
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Calls for Action on Unhealthy Food Taxes
During his address, Dimbleby urged UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Chancellor Rachel Reeves to heed campaigners and a recent House of Lords report advocating for HFSS taxes. These measures, he argued, could fund broader access to nutritious food and reduce reliance on medical interventions.
His 2021 National Food Strategy report had proposed a range of reforms, including taxes on salt and sugar. Dimbleby argued these could replace the current sugar tax on soft drinks and incentivize food manufacturers to prioritize healthier product formulations.
Dimbleby, who resigned from his previous government role over frustrations with inaction on public health policies, warned that relying on drugs like Ozempic risked creating an “obesity version of Prozac.” He likened this approach to current antidepressant usage patterns, where millions are dependent on long-term medication.
Global Comparisons and Alternative Solutions
The UK, Dimbleby asserted, is falling behind other nations such as the United States, which have adopted localized initiatives to tackle obesity and health disparities. He highlighted evidence from Washington-based programs where insurers subsidize fruits and vegetables for individuals in poverty, proving more effective than pharmaceutical solutions.
If you just rely on drugs, it won’t work,” Dimbleby cautioned. “The cost to the NHS will be enormous, and it will reflect a broader policy failure.
Think Tank Recommendations
Influential think tank Nesta also weighed in, recommending a dual strategy combining weight-loss drugs with mandatory targets for supermarkets. Following an extensive two-year analysis of over 3,000 studies, Nesta proposed a mix of prevention and treatment measures to halve obesity rates by the decade’s end.
Their recommendations included introducing a compulsory front-of-pack health scoring system, restricting junk food advertising, and banning promotional deals on HFSS-heavy takeaways. Nesta emphasized that an integrated approach was crucial to addressing the complex factors driving the obesity epidemic.
As policymakers grapple with the challenge, experts like Dimbleby stress that meaningful change will require a shift from reactive drug reliance to proactive prevention strategies.
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