Pharmacists can now refer obese people to free weight loss courses to help ease the burden on the NHS

Pharmacists can refer obese people to free weight loss courses today to boost their health and reduce the burden on their NHS.

Patients can ask to sign up for a 12-week program, or staff can make a referral if they think it will be beneficial.

The online NHS course includes access to tailored diet and exercise plans, apps, and one-on-one training and support.

Three in five adults in the UK are overweight. More than one in four people is obese, putting them at increased risk of cancer, heart disease and type 2 diabetes (file image used)

It is open to adults in the UK with high blood pressure or diabetes and a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher.

People of Asian descent, blacks, and ethnic minorities may participate with a lower BMI of 27.5, due to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.

Until now, patients had to be seen by their GP before they could access the course.

Three in five adults in the UK are overweight. More than a quarter of people are obese, putting them at increased risk of cancer, heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

The online NHS course includes access to tailored diet and exercise plans, apps and one-on-one training and support (using file photo)

Diabetes is estimated to cost the NHS £10 billion a year, with one in 20 GP prescriptions issued to treat the condition.

Dr Bruce Warner, NHS England deputy director of pharmacy, said: ‘Adults with obesity can now walk to any street community pharmacy to take the first step in their journey. Losing weight changes lives.’

Projections suggest that the growing number of people with the disease could lead to nearly 39,000 more heart attacks by 2035 and more than 50,000 to strokes.

Source: | This article originally belonged to Dailymail.co.uk