Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effect that encouraging GPs to refer patients to medical weight loss clinics would have on levels of obesity.

No direct assessment has been made. However, evidence has shown that general practitioners (GP) referrals are effective at encouraging the uptake of weight management services and subsequently result in increased weight loss for those referred. This evidence has informed the decision to invest £20.4 million in the Weight Management Enhanced Service, which financially incentivises GPs to refer individuals to weight management services. We are committed to evaluating the impact of the 2021/22 Weight Management Enhanced Service.