Growing use of GLP-1 weight loss medication in the UK is spurring questions about the risk of increasing health inequities and longer term dangers
A report by the Food Foundation indicates an estimated 8.25mn people in the UK have either taken, are taking or are considering taking GLP-1 weight loss medications, severely stretching the NHS’s ability to meet demand.
Nearly 7 per cent of the UK population are using or have used GLP-1 drugs, according to the survey, with a further 8 per cent of adults having considered or considering using them.
Despite being disproportionately more likely to be living with obesity, people on low incomes are significantly less likely to be able to afford private prescriptions, leading to concerns that existing health inequalities will be further widened.
The report warns that food businesses may respond to the trend by hiking food prices or continuing to focus on premium versions of prepared meals and products designed for and marketed toward GLP-1 users.
A chief concern is what happens once a patient comes off the medication. “Currently, NHS GLP-1 prescriptions last two years, but studies show rapid weight regain when patients return to a food environment where unhealthy options are more accessible and affordable than healthy ones,” the report said. “While some believe GLP-1s could shift diets by pushing industry toward more nutritious foods in response to changing consumer demand, relying on this is risky. There is limited UK research on how these drugs affect food choices.”
The report stressed that regulation of the food environment was crucial in order to ensure the wider population, as well as those coming off the drugs, can afford and access healthy diets.
Rebecca Tobi, head of food business transformation at the Food Foundation, commented: “While there can be no doubt that GLP-1 drugs are a highly effective treatment option for those living with obesity and related conditions, significant questions remain about their long-term impact. There remain a number of gaps in the evidence base, wider unanswered questions around the potential impact on health inequities, and the risk of unintended consequences from unregulated online prescription of the drugs and their long-term use.
”The government must remain focused on the wider prevention agenda. And food businesses and investors must continue to ensure wholesale shifts in portfolios towards food offerings that are both healthy and affordable.”
