GPs concerned about ineligible patients using weight-loss drugs
GPs are concerned about patients privately accessing weight-loss drugs where not appropriate, with some reporting examples of serious adverse health impacts as a result.
A survey of 540 GPs on their experience managing obesity in patients found more than two-thirds (67%) are concerned about ‘patients accessing GLP-1s who do not meet the criteria for them’.
The survey, carried out by the Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland (MDDUS), also found a similar number (68%) concerned that patients are accessing the injections despite existing contraindications.
Further, 62% of GPs are concerned about patients with previous or existing eating disorders accessing weight-loss drugs,
One GP respondent said patients ‘do not like to hear they have [contraindications] to [the] drug and assume they are safe, with no need to advise GP of their use and interaction with other medications’, and that – as a result – they had sent ‘three patients to hospital with gallstones or pancreatitis’.
Another said they had discussed a patient with a history of anorexia nervosa inappropriately accessing GPL-1 agonist medication privately.
GPs responding to the survey also criticised the Government’s rollout of weight-loss injections on the NHS, including a lack of coordinated support from the Government in making clear to patients who is eligible.
One anonymous GP respondent said: ‘General practice has been left to explain to patients the complex NHS criteria for patients to qualify to access these treatments – and to deal with the consequent (completely understandable) confusion, frustration and distress from patients.
‘There has not been any national effort to provide the public with appropriate clear information, messaging or support, from either NHS England or the Department of Health and Social Care.
‘GPs and their teams on the frontline have been left to pick up the pieces without any support from NHS England or any resource to help us with this significant increase in workload.’
More widely, the survey found almost half (49%) of GPs have seen children aged seven or younger with obesity.
Some 26% of GPs reported seeing obesity as a clinical concern in children aged five to seven, 23% in children aged four or under, and some (3%) younger than a year old.
Chief medical officer at MDDUS Dr John Holden said these findings are ‘alarming’ and confirmed a ‘growing crisis of childhood obesity across the country’.
For many children, contact with the NHS through their GP should be an opportunity for early support and change. Yet without the time and resources to handle these sensitive discussions well, that opportunity can be lost, to the frustration of doctors and the long term detriment of the child’s health’, he said.
Main GP concerns about patients accessing GLP-1s privately
- Patients receiving the medicines without proper consultation or review of medical records (78%);
- A lack of monitoring to ensure patient safety (75%);
- Patients with contraindications being prescribed the drugs (68%);
- Patients obtaining GLP‑1 medicines despite not meeting eligibility criteria (67%);
- People with current or past eating disorders accessing them (62%);
- Limited communication between private providers and NHS practices (57%).
Source: MDDUS
The NHS rolled out prescribing of tirzepatide (Mounjaro) in general practice last year on a phased basis to avoid inundating services. In the first year, a patient must be over 18, have a BMI of 40 or higher, or 37.5 or higher for certain ethnic groups, and have at least four weight-related conditions to be eligible. This threshold is due to drop to a BMI of 35+4 comorbidities; or 40+3 comorbidities from 2026/27.
Semaglitude (Wegovy) prescribing for obesity remains restricted to specialist weight management services.
Recent research revealed almost one in ten (1.6 million) British adults are taking weight-loss drugs or have plans to do so in the near future.
And last year, a Pulse survey found GPs were facing a major increase in workload since the NHS began offering Mounjaro in primary care in June 2025.
The survey of more than 1,200 GPs and practice nurses about patient requests for tirzepatide, finding that on average one in 25 consultations (4%)
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READERS' COMMENTS [3]
Please note, only GPs are permitted to add comments to articles
It’s a commercial world peeps and our politicians do whatever the big companies tell them to do
Outrageous, stupid Proles making decisions for themselves without asking permission from a doctor.
Meanwhile, whilst millions of people would plausibly benefit from these drugs, the sacred NHS has managed to prescribe to a few thousands; a grotesque failure that should have even the most devoted acolytes having second thoughts.
Also when patients have issues with these medications they tend to seek treatment/advice from the NHS – whether it be GP, 111, A&E.
Perhaps these private providers should be billed for these episodes. Many providers the clinical prescriber is a pharmacist, if patients are in need of blood tests other treatments then they end up in the NHS service to manage the issues caused by privately prescribed medication.