People need ongoing support after obesity treatment
On August 5th 2025, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) released updated guidance recommending that healthcare providers offer structured, ongoing support to patients after they complete obesity treatment or stop taking weight-loss medications.
Research shows that many people regain weight after stopping treatment if they don’t get the right help, which can negatively affect both their physical and mental health.
This support includes regular follow-up care, tailored action plans and social support to help patients maintain their weight loss and avoid regaining weight.
New drugs raise the need for long-term support
The new guidance comes as weight-loss medications such as semaglutide (Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro) are being introduced on the NHS. An estimated 240,000 people are expected to be offered tirzepatide over the next 3 years. The update also addresses the gap in current care which results in many people regaining weight after treatment stops if they don’t have adequate support and this has consequences bot physical and mental health.
In England, 29% of adults are living with obesity and 64% of adults are classified as overweight or obese. Obesity-related illnesses are estimated to cost the NHS £11.4 billion a year and have a wider economic impact of £74.3 billion.
Ensuring Continuity of Care
The guidance stresses the following points:
- Weight management is a long-term process and not a one-time solution.
- Healthcare providers should ensure continuity of care by monitoring patients for at least 12 months and offering tailored support to help maintain weight loss. The above may include NHS Better Health resources and strategies for habit change, as well as practical adjustments at home or at work.
- A shift from short-term interventions to strategies that foster lasting behavioural changes – the importance of self-monitoring and connecting patients with broader support networks, such as online communities, family-led initiatives, and local programmes.
Guidance Implementation
Professor Jonathan Benger, deputy chief executive of NICE is quoted as saying: that weight management “doesn’t end when medication stops or when someone completes a behavioural programme,” adding that “people need structured support to maintain the positive changes they’ve made.”
The new guidance replaces three previous standards and reflects the most up-to-date strategies for tackling obesity through the healthcare system. Healthcare services are advised to begin implementing the standard immediately, with resource impact guidance available to assist in local adaptation.
The full guidance can be found at: www.nice.org.uk/guidance/qs212
