Weight loss medicine in south east London
Weight loss medicines have been approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in England. We are starting to make these available to people in south east London.
These medicines are called Wegovy® and Mounjaro®.
Who can get weight loss medicines in south east London on the NHS?
Our priority is to make these medicines available to people who need them the most.
This means that in order to get weight loss medicines, you must meet certain criteria. You must be overweight with:
- A body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more (or 37.5 or more if you’re of South Asian, Chinese, other Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean origin) and
- Have 4 or more of the following weight related health conditions: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, obstructive sleep apnoea or type 2 diabetes
or
- A BMI of 35 or more (or 32.5 or more if you’re of South Asian, Chinese, other Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean origin) and
- Have at least 1 weight related health condition (not restricted to those listed above) and
- You need to lose weight urgently for one of the reasons outlined below:
- You have cancer and need to lose weight to start treatment like surgery or radiotherapy.
- You need to lose weight before you can have an organ transplant.
- You have a condition called idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) and you need regular lumbar punctures, or it is causing vision problems.
- You need a planned operation for a serious condition but your BMI is the main barrier to having the operation.
- You’re under NHS fertility care and need to lose weight to begin fertility treatment.
- You have a condition called obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS)
How do you get weight loss medicines in south east London on the NHS?
If you meet these criteria for weight loss medicines, your GP will be able to refer you to a south east London specialist weight loss service who are able to prescribe the medication for you.
Access to the medication must be accompanied by wraparound care which will include support for people to make dietary changes and increase physical activity.
Please note: you will only be given weight loss medications if they are safe and right for you.
You cannot go to these services directly. You must be referred by your GP.
If you are not registered with a GP in south east London, please see How to register with a GP surgery – NHS.
Can I get these medications directly from my GP?
A new primary care service is currently being developed so that eligible patients can access this medication through a dedicated primary care pathway. We’ll let you know the exact start date as soon as it’s confirmed.
Please note that the medication cannot be started through individual GP practices in south east London.
In the meantime, if you are eligible for weight loss medications, your GP will be able to refer you to a south east London specialist weight loss service who are able to prescribe the medication for you.
Alternative sources of support
The NHS Digital Weight Management Programme supports adults living with obesity who also have a diagnosis of diabetes, hypertension, or both, to manage their weight and improve their health. It is a 12-week online behavioural and lifestyle programme that people can access via a smartphone or computer with internet access. Each borough in south east London also has local weight management services. Both of these options can be accessed via referral from a GP.
We know there will be many people who do not qualify for the weight loss medications which may cause disappointment and / or exacerbate new and existing mental health and wellbeing issues. People may find NHS talking therapies a helpful source of support.
More information about obesity treatment is available via the NHS website.