Lifestyle Medicine for healthy weight management/GLP1 Treatment Wraparound

NHSE estimates that 2.8 million patients are eligible for weight-loss drug tirzepatide (Mounjaro) accounting for 18% of GP appointment time in 12 years time when fully rolled out.

BSLM Consensus Statement: Anti-Obesity Medications - British Society of Lifestyle Medicine

AOMs such as the GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and dual GLP-1/GIP agents have emerged as effective treatments for obesity. Whilst there is an urgent need to improve care for people with obesity, particularly to address stigmatising beliefs around the condition, we are concerned that the planned roll-out of AOMs may not be safe, effective or sustainable for the following reasons:

• An over-focus on AOMs risks distracting public health efforts to tackle the root causes of obesity, namely poverty1 and a broken food system2. This approach could also risk an arms race between pharmaceuticals designed to reduce appetite and the food industry creating food to over-ride natural satiety mechanisms3.

• Restricting appetite through AOMs without individually tailored wraparound support, risks unintended harms such as worsening malnutrition (including muscle wasting/sarcopenia) for the most vulnerable. People with obesity, particularly those facing food insecurity, already have high rates of vitamin and mineral deficiencies4 which can be exacerbated by restrictive food intake.

• There are significant workload implications for primary care teams particularly with insufficient wraparound support.5 Primary care is already facing significant pressure from the increase rates of chronic disease, reductions in funding, a shift of care into community and a need to deliver preventive care.

Audience: This study day is intended to be an introduction and guideline for all healthcare professionals, and reflects the increasing need for familiarity with weight management approaches, as such they become more widespread.

This event offers 8hrs CPD. The event will be recorded and those registered will recieve the recording link post-event

Event plus Course bundle:

Those aiming to directly support individuals with weight management, can look out for the bundle option which will include our upcoming e-learning course at a special discounted price which will go into more detail.

Course Bundle: Weight Management. Join us for the event and register for the course pre-sale). Bundle option available at discounted rate through our Learning Management System directly - link here.

This course will cover:

• The pathophysiological processes involved in the development of obesity, including social drivers

• The epidemiology of obesity, high risk groups and its consequences

• Assessment of patients with obesity

• Nutrition in the context of weight management

• Physical activity in the context of weight management

• Other lifestyle factors and the gut microbiome in the context of weight management

• The major pharmacological and surgical approaches used in weight loss and how to support those on a medicated weight loss journey

• How the guidelines bring this all together

• An extended section on weight management psychology and evidence-based behaviour change support in a weight management context.

More info on the course here