ukactive and CIMSPA have issued a joint statement on the Government’s announcement today (15 October) about its investment in weight-loss drug GLP-1
The Government has a generational opportunity to invest fully in a prevention strategy for the health of the nation.
Advances in medicine have a vital role to play for people suffering from the severest forms of obesity but the national adoption of weight-loss drugs is no substitute for a strategy that encompasses physical activity and diet too.
The Health Secretary has spoken of the importance of exercise as part of the solution, but the Government needs to set out how this announcement sits within a full prevention strategy.
Given the UK’s health crisis, there is a danger of quick-fix solutions taking priority, so we urge the Government to harness the power of physical activity, which has been proven to prevent more than 20 chronic conditions, including type 2 diabetes, obesity, heart disease, many cancers, anxiety, depression and other mental health conditions.
Physical activity and weight-loss drugs are not mutually exclusive, as already demonstrated by many patients who quickly regain weight after they stop taking GLP-1.
This model of treating people requires further testing, as shown by the pilot scheme in Manchester, and the complementary role of exercise and diet will be crucial for the long-term success of any weight-loss programme.
We want to work with the Government to develop the required guidance for patients, our facilities and our workforce for supporting GLP-1 patients with exercise.
Obesity is one of the symptoms of our nation’s poor physical and mental health, so we need to understand what plans the Government has for driving sustainable change.
Previous governments have taken a short-term focus, and it is about time prevention is viewed as the cure, rather than waiting until people’s health conditions decline so much that they are left with no other choice than to turn to drugs and hospitals.
More People More Active More Often
