Slimming World response to NICE announcement on the use of Semaglutide for weight management
Carolyn Pallister, Registered Dietitian, Slimming World’s Head of Nutrition, Research and Health, says: “At Slimming World, we understand that losing weight is a long-term challenge for many people, and we welcome any innovation that genuinely makes it easier for people to safely and effectively manage their weight and live healthier, happier lives.
“While trials show that semaglutide is a significant development in the medical treatment of obesity, it isn't a ‘silver bullet’ for weight loss and it isn’t for everyone. It’s a short-term intervention for medically eligible people, with potential side-effects. Those who are prescribed the drug will be advised to follow a calorie-reduced diet and to increase their activity levels and it’s important to note that these combined changes will bring about both weight loss and successful weight maintenance without the use of medication. Use of semaglutide is limited to two years, and trials have shown that once they stop taking the drug, users regain most of the weight they’ve lost.
With Slimming World, members discover how to make healthy lifestyle changes and feel in control of their food and activity choices for the long-term.
“The truth is that the only way to lose weight and keep it off in the long term is by making sustainable healthy changes to what we eat and drink, and by becoming more active. Lifestyle changes need to sit alongside, and exist well beyond, any medical intervention someone chooses, such as surgery or drugs. Slimming World supports members to adopt exactly these new healthier habits and to feel in control of their food and activity choices without having to inject themselves. Crucially, our approach includes behaviour change support to help members change their mindset around their weight and their eating and activity levels, as well as powerfully motivating peer support from other slimmers. All of this is vital to sustaining any lifestyle changes in the long-term and neither of these support systems are achieved using semaglutide on its own.
“We welcome with open arms anyone who’s struggling with their weight, so if any of our members are prescribed semaglutide or decide to buy it, or if anyone taking the drug needs additional help to eat more healthily, we’ll be there to support them. With Slimming World they’ll discover how to make healthy lifestyle changes that will stay with them long after they stop having the injections. So we’re confident that weight loss groups will continue to have a vital part to play, and Slimming World’s essential role in supporting people to reach and maintain a healthy weight won’t change.”
If you'd like to find out more about how to join Slimming World, you can do so here.