Around 10,000 people every year are set to benefit from a groundbreaking new NHS diet plan that can not only aid weight loss but help tackle diabetes. As part of the national initiative participants will consume an 800-calorie-a-day regimen of low-calorie meal replacements such as soups, shakes and snack bars over a three-month period.
This “soup and shake diet” has been shown to result in rapid weight loss and even diabetes remission in about half of the cases.
At the recent European Congress on Obesity in Venice, it was revealed that patients who stuck to this diet for a trial lost an average of 22 pounds (10kg) over one year.
They also saw significant improvements in blood sugar levels.
The research, conducted by the University of Leeds, included 838 people who took part in pilot schemes.
It is planned the programme will reach 50,000 people over five years, being made available through 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.”
As reported by GloucestershireLive, the programme will cost approximately £1,100 per person.
This is significantly cheaper than new slimming medications like Ozempic, which can cost around £200 monthly and need to be taken indefinitely.
The NHS has been running trials of the programme since 2020, with thousands taking part.
Participants on average shed an impressive 28lbs (13kg) within the first three months.
After this initial phase, individuals are guided on gradually reintroducing regular food to sustain their newfound lighter weights.
The programme is just one part of a wider plan aimed at tackling obesity and type 2 diabetes.
This also includes plans to offer thousands of patients access to innovative weight-loss injections such as Ozempic and Wegovy, which Prime Minister Rishi Sunak recently committed to making available on the NHS.
A pivotal study also presented at the European Congress on Obesity, 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.”
It is now estimated that more than five million people in the UK are living with the condition, with 90 percent 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.
