If you're overweight, losing weight has many health benefits. It might help reduce the risk of developing health conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Making small, simple changes to what and how much you are eating and drinking can really help you lose the pounds.
The NHS Better Health website has a wealth of resources to support you to lose weight. Download the NHS Weight Loss Plan, find out about
Couch to 5K, access apps and learn about healthy food swaps.
Frequently asked questions about weight loss
NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) commissions bariatric (weight loss) surgery as a treatment for some people with severe and complex obesity that has not responded to other interventions. The ICB commissioning policy for bariatric (weight loss) surgery can be viewed here. Rates of bariatric surgery fell across West Yorkshire during the Covid-19 pandemic when hospitals focused on surgeries that were more clinically urgent but more bariatric procedures are now being performed.
Semaglutide (Wegovy)
The drug semaglutide, brand name Wegovy, is a prescription medicine that can increase feelings of fullness, reduce hunger and reduce the desire for high-fat foods. Used alongside healthy eating and physical activity, semaglutide may help people with obesity lose weight and reduce the risk of developing or worsening associated health conditions. Please see this document Access to weight loss drugs in West Yorkshire for more information.
There have been reports in the media about fake weight loss drugs, including the sale of semaglutide injections without a prescription, and the rise of counterfeit drugs. We advise anybody who buys medicines online to check that the provider is registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council or Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland. They regulate pharmacies, including online pharmacies, in the UK and Northern Ireland. These medicines are available only on prescription and therefore the only way people accessing these medications can be sure they are genuine is through sites registered with these bodies, or in the case of dispensing doctors the Care Quality Commission.
Tirzepatide (Mounjaro)
Please see the Medicines Information page for the latest information about the use of Mounjaro for weight loss.