An NHS doctor has criticised Labour’s plan to trial weight loss injections for unemployed Britons, raising concerns over drug shortages and long-term effectiveness.
The initiative, proposed by Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting, aims to tackle obesity and boost the economy by offering weight loss jabs to out-of-work individuals.
However, NHS doctor Dr Bhasha Mukherjee expressed scepticism about the approach, highlighting the current shortage of Ozempic and Wegovy, popular weight loss medications, and questioned the sustainability of the proposed five-year trial.
Wes Streeting, writing in the Telegraph, argued that “widening waistbands” are placing a “significant burden on our health service”. He claimed the initiative could be “monumental in our approach to tackling obesity”.
Dr Bhasha Mukherjee claimed weight loss jabs for the jobless is ‘not the answer’ to tackling obesity
GB News / PA
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer also backed the trial, suggesting the plans are “very important” for the economy.
The doctor argued that the plan fails to address the root causes of obesity and may set a problematic precedent by relying solely on medication to solve a complex health issue.
Dr Bhasha Mukherjee told GB News that weight loss injections are “absolutely not the answer” to tackling obesity.
She expressed concerns about introducing potential side effects into an already complex health situation.
The doctor emphasised the short-term nature of the proposed five-year trial, questioning its long-term effectiveness.
“Once you take these drugs off, if they have not got the right health education, the right financial education to sustain this lifestyle, they’re going to go back to square one,” Dr Mukherjee warned.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has also backed the move, claiming it will be ‘very important’ for the economy
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She also challenged the assumption that obesity is linked to unemployment, stating: “I have family members who are obese who work. There are people who have lots of health conditions who work.
“I think it’s an attitude problem, if anything.”
Dr Mukherjee proposed alternative solutions to address obesity. She suggested implementing food stamps for healthy foods and allocating more time for GP appointments.
She explained: “My personal viewpoint would be, I would love to have longer with my patients, to have those conversations, to get to know what’s really driving their food addiction.”
Dr Bhasha Mukherjee suggested using food stamps as an alternative method to tackle obesity
GB News
The doctor continued by emphasising the complex nature of obesity, noting its impact on mobility, sleep, and overall health and acknowledged the challenges of food addiction but argued for a more holistic approach.
“Bring back food stamps that allow you to buy healthy foods,” she urged, advocating for a more sustainable and educational approach to tackling obesity.