Obesity: How long should drug treatment last?

Injectable appetite suppressant drugs should be considered a lifelong treatment for obesity rather than a two year fix, researchers have argued.At a briefing at London’s Science Media Centre on the GLP-1 “weight loss drugs” that have made headlines around the world in the past year, speakers said that the UK’s current prescribing limit of two years was based on economics rather than clinical benefit.“With regards to the two year rule, it’s a cost measure rather than a clinical measure,” said Barbara McGowan, consultant endocrinologist and obesity physician at Guy’s and St Thomas’​ NHS Foundation Trust on 26 July. “We all agree that obesity is a chronic disease. We feel that these medications should not be stopped after two years. You wouldn’t stop a statin, you wouldn’t stop a blood pressure tablet.”Regaining weight was also a concern when the treatment ended, along with the “psychological issues” that came with that, she…
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