The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has released updated guidance recommending that healthcare providers offer structured, ongoing support to patients after they complete obesity treatment or stop taking weight-loss medications.
This includes regular follow-up care, tailored action plans, and social support to help patients maintain their weight loss and avoid regaining weight.
New Drugs Raise Need for Long-Term Support
The new quality standard comes as weight-loss medications such as semaglutide (Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro) are being introduced on the NHS. An estimated 240,000 people are set to be offered tirzepatide over the next 3 years.
The update addresses a critical gap in current care, noting that many people regain weight after treatment if they lack adequate support, with consequences for both physical and mental health.
In England, 29% of adults are living with obesity and 64% of adults are classified as overweight or obese. Obesity-related illnesses are estimated to cost the NHS £11.4 billion a year and have a wider economic impact of £74.3 billion.
Ensuring Continuity of Care
The guidance stresses that weight management is a long-term process, not a one-time fix. It recommends that healthcare providers ensure continuity of care by monitoring patients for at least 12 months and offering tailored support to help maintain weight loss. This may include NHS Better Health resources and strategies for habit change, as well as practical adjustments at home or at work.
The quality standard advocates for a shift from short-term interventions to strategies that foster lasting behavioural changes. It highlights the importance of self-monitoring and connecting patients with broader support networks, such as online communities, family-led initiatives, and local programmes.
Guidance Implementation
Professor Jonathan Benger, deputy chief executive of NICE, noted that weight management “doesn’t end when medication stops or when someone completes a behavioural programme,” adding that “people need structured support to maintain the positive changes they’ve made.”
The new guidance replaces three previous standards and reflects the most up-to-date strategies for tackling obesity through the healthcare system.
Healthcare services are advised to begin implementing the standard immediately, with resource impact guidance available to assist in local adaptation.