Weight-loss jabs alone will not fix our obesity crisis

Ignoring a comprehensive approach to nutrition and lifestyle when tackling obesity is a recipe for disaster, says Heather Rosa, Dean of the Institute for Optimum Nutrition.

Health secretary Wes Streeting has recently suggested weight-loss jabs could be given to unemployed people living with obesity to help them return to work. 

The latest generation of weight-loss medications, involving drugs such as semaglutide or tirzepatide, could be administered to people to get them back into employment, and to ease costs to the health service. 

Streeting suggested in an opinion piece for the Telegraph that “widening waistbands” are “placing significant burden on our health service” and these medicines could be “life changing” for individuals. 

His words came as the government announced a £279m investment from Lilly – the world’s largest pharmaceutical company – as part of a five-year trial in Greater Manchester to assess if the weight-loss drug Mounjaro can help get more people back to work and prevent obesity-related diseases.  

Mounjaro is an injectable prescription medicine that is used along with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar (glucose) in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. 

In response to Streeting’s recent piece, Heather Rosa, Dean of the Institute for Optimum Nutrition, commented: 

“The root causes of this epidemic lie in the pervasive culture of ultra-processed foods that has infiltrated Western society. By focusing solely on medication, we risk perpetuating a cycle of dependence and ignore the clear need for healthier eating and lifestyle habits.  

“Some individuals may find themselves reliant on these medications for life, with the possibility of suffering from serious side effects. Mounjaro, for example, can cause severe stomach problems, kidney problems, inflammation of the pancreas, and serious allergic reactions.  

“We need to build healthy lifestyle habits for life. While medication can be helpful too, it is not a substitute for a healthy lifestyle. Government policies must play a pivotal role by investing in education and awareness programmes about nutrition and empower individuals to make informed food choices.  

“Nutritional therapists and practitioners specialise in nutrition and weight management and can provide invaluable guidance and support. It’s all about creating a healthy future for us and for future generations. 

“It’s no surprise to see our views are shared and echoed by The British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine (BANT), the leading professional body for registered nutritional therapy practitioners.   

“BANT continue to advocate to treat the cause, and not just the effects of obesity and maintains its position that?diet and lifestyle have a critical role to play in managing the UK’s obesity epidemic.” 

Notes to Editors 

About ION 
The Institute for Optimum Nutrition (ION) is a UK-based education charity founded in 1984 by Patrick Holford to train students in personalised nutrition and lifestyle medicine.  

ION is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2024 with over 2,000 graduates worldwide changing the lives of countless individuals through personalised nutrition.  

It remains one of the first providers of nutritional therapy training in the UK and today is the largest provider of full-time and part-time undergraduate courses. ION also offers short courses to professionals including doctors, allied healthcare and CAM practitioners, as well as accredited professional CPD courses.  

www.ion.ac.uk 

Media contacts:  
Communications Officer: catherine.morgan@ion.ac.uk 
Communications Officer: natalie.li@ion.ac.uk 

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