Obesity is better managed with public health policies than with weight-loss drugs, leading members of the Doctors’ Association UK’s (DAUK) GP committee have said.
In a letter to the Times, Dr Lizzie Toberty, DAUK’s GP lead, and Dr Ellen Welch, DAUK’s vice-chair, said investment was needed in preventing the problem with better information and support for families and schools.
Their letter was in response to an article on weight-loss drugs.
Dr Toberty and Dr Welch said: “… instead of investing in drugs to reduce obesity we could invest our efforts into preventing the problem in the first place.
“How about creating sweet-free schools, removing grab bags and snacks at tills, and educating on the harms of fizzy pop and sugary drinks?
“Investment in public health is not glamorous, and will not make money for Big Pharma, but it will make us and our children healthier, happier and cost less to the NHS in the long run.”
Dr Toberty added to the letter with a post in X, formerly known as Twitter.
She posted: “It’s great we’ve got drugs to help people lose weight, but we’re not getting the basics right.
“Why aren’t we nudging everyone, including kids towards a healthier life?”
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