Home / Health / UK Obesity Crisis: Underfunded NHS Weight Loss Surgeries
UK Obesity Crisis: Underfunded NHS Weight Loss Surgeries
25 Feb
Summary
- Only half of English adults have access to adequate NHS weight loss services.
- The UK performs 7,000 bariatric surgeries annually versus France's 35,000.
- Illegal weight loss jab sales are being cracked down upon by authorities.
Specialist weight management services in England are described as "very patchy," with only about 50% of the population having adequate access. This under-provision means many eligible adults are not offered vital bariatric surgeries like gastric bands and sleeves, nor weight loss jabs such as Mounjaro, despite clear indications for their use. The situation is exacerbated by a lack of capacity, leading to approximately 50,000 patients currently on waiting lists for specialist Tier 3 services.
The disparity in surgical provision is stark when compared internationally. The UK conducts around 7,000 bariatric surgeries each year. In contrast, France, with a similar population and lower obesity rates, performs approximately 35,000 such procedures annually. This highlights a significant under-provision of bariatric surgery within the UK's healthcare system.
Alongside these service deficits, health authorities are actively tackling the illicit market for weight loss injections. Recent raids in Lincolnshire resulted in the seizure of nearly 2,000 doses of suspected fake Mounjaro and retatrutide injections. Officials have pledged to prevent criminals from exploiting individuals seeking weight management assistance.
