In Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and across the NHS there is different help available depending on the level of support you require to help you in your weight loss journey.
There is support available online including the free NHS Weight Loss Plan which can help you to start losing weight.
We know there are many factors that affect weight and weight loss, and if you need more help and support, NHS Hampshire and the Isle of Wight works with our local authorities and public health teams to deliver programmes of support. Speak to your GP who can help refer you to the right programme.
If after a programme of support you and your GP decide you need to access the next level of help to lose weight, you may be eligible for a higher level of support if you have a BMI of 35 or over with obesity-related complications. Your GP surgery will be able to advise you on the next steps available to you.
There are multiple tiers of help for your weight loss journey depending on the level of support you require and any underlying conditions that may be making it harder to lose weight. Weight loss injections could be one possible part of this support that will become available on the NHS if it suits your individual needs.
Further information from your local authority can be found using the links below:
Currently across NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight, which includes Portsmouth and Southampton, neither semaglutide (Wegovy) or tirzepatide (Mounjaro) injections are available for managing weight loss and obesity.
Semaglutide is also available as the Ozempic brand which is indicated for the treatment of people with type 2 diabetes. Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) is also indicated for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
In December 2024 the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published guidelines in relation to the use of tirzepatide which is a new drug for managing obesity. These guidelines set out that tirzepatide should be made available for weight loss and that it is most effective alongside the right diet and exercise.
NICE guidelines have also been published for semaglutide (Wegovy) to advise that it should only be used within specialist weight management services.
As a result of this guidance, NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight is currently looking at the clinical steps needed to make this available for patients on prescription. This means that this medication will be available for weight loss once we have the right clinical process in place to ensure safe and fair access to tirzepatide for our patients. We expect this to be from summer 2025 through a staged approach which will help manage demand on existing healthcare services.
As part of this staged approach, initially, tirzepatide will only be available in specialist weight management services and offered to individuals over the age of 18 who are living with obesity and facing the most significant health risks related to their weight.