NHS to offer new diet that helps people lose 10kg a year and reverse diabetes

16 May 2024 , 14:36

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A man measures his blood sugar levels [stock image] (Image: Alamy/PA)

The NHS is set to launch a groundbreaking "soup and shake" diet plan aimed at helping 10,000 people a year combat type 2 diabetes.

The new national initiative involves participants consuming an 800-calorie-a-day regimen of low-calorie meal replacements such as soups, shakes and snack bars for three months. This approach has been shown to lead to rapid weight loss and even diabetes remission in about half of the cases.

At the European Congress on Obesity in Venice, it was revealed that patients following this program lost an average of 10kg over one year and saw significant improvements in blood sugar levels. The research, conducted by the University of Leeds, included 838 people who took part in pilot schemes.

With the aim of reaching 50,000 people over five years, the NHS is now rolling out the program nationwide, with GP referrals. NHS England's chief executive Amanda Pritchard said: "Developing type 2 diabetes can have a devastating impact for so many people and their families, and this NHS programme can be truly life-changing in helping reverse the effects of the condition, reducing their risks of significant health complications and supporting them to stay well for the long-term.

"I'm delighted that thousands of people have already accessed this support on the NHS to improve their health and that many thousands more are now set to benefit this year as we roll it out to every area of England."

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The NHS is offering a more wallet-friendly weight management solution with its soup and shakes plan, which rings in at approximately £1,100 per person, reports Gloucestershire Live. Ozempic, which is for the treatment of adults with insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus as an adjunct to diet and exercise can cost around £200 monthly and need to be taken indefinitely to keep the pounds off. It is sometimes used by some people to lose weight.

Since its 2020 debut, the scheme has seen thousands of NHS patients take part in trial runs, despite being previously accessible in less than half of the UK. On average, participants have shed an impressive 13kg within the first three months. Following this initial phase, individuals receive guidance on gradually reintroducing regular food to sustain their newfound lighter frames reports Gloucestershire Live.

This initiative is just one piece of a larger puzzle aimed at tackling obesity and type 2 diabetes, which also includes plans to offer thousands of patients access to Ozempic and Wegovy at NHS facilities. In a recent announcement, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak committed to making these groundbreaking injections available on the NHS. This follows a pivotal study presented at the European Congress on Obesity, which highlighted the injections' potential to transform care for millions suffering from heart disease by slashing the risk of heart attacks and strokes by a fifth.

The prime minister's spokesperson welcomed the findings, stating: "This new study is welcome because we know the potential for obesity medicines to help more people both lose weight but as this study suggests also cut wider health conditions. That's why we are committed to the safe introduction of new approved weight loss drugs into the NHS, as well as improving access to existing drugs for those who meet the eligibility criteria."

Ozempic has been approved for use on the NHS for patients with type 2 diabetes while Wegovy, which contains the same key ingredient, semaglutide, is available for patients who are obese and have at least one related condition, such as heart disease. Michael Mosley, the brains behind the 5:2 diet and Very Fast 800, has previously shared his thoughts on liquid diets. He said: "There are lots of really good ones [liquid diets] out there.

"It's about 800-900 calories, more calories, more protein, all the right ingredients in it and it seems to be very effective. As for weight loss results, it was compared "to a standard diet [and] the people who were on the rapid weight loss diet, they lost more weight, about 1.5st (10kg), but they also had less side effects than the group who went on the standard diet".

Mr Mosley has advised individuals to consult with a doctor before embarking on a rapid weight loss or liquid diet. He also proposed an alternative to liquid diets for those aiming to shed a significant amount of weight. "The thing I want to say it doesn't just have to be a liquid diet; a few years ago with Professor Roy Taylor's blessing I created something called the Fast 800, a rapid weight loss diet," Mosley said. The surge in obesity has led to a doubling of diabetes cases over the past 15 years.

It is now estimated that more than five million people in the UK are living with the condition, with 90 per cent of them having type 2. This is costing the NHS over £10 billion annually due to complications such as stroke and kidney failure. Type 2 diabetes was once considered a progressive and lifelong disease, but research over the past decade has shown that it can be reversed if patients adhere to an intensive weight loss plan.

Another study presented at the conference on Tuesday revealed how childhood obesity significantly increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in adulthood. German researchers analysed data from 2.7 million individuals aged between two and 29 to estimate the risks associated with obesity. They concluded that a severely obese four year old would have a life expectancy of 39 years, roughly half the average, and a 45 per cent chance of developing type 2 diabetes by the age of 35.

Ben Hurst