Year long wait for weight-loss medication as demand increases

There is a 12-month waiting list for weight-loss medications Photo cred: Cardiff and Vale UHB

There has been a rise in demand for injectable weight-loss medication, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board has said.

Medications such as liraglutide (also called Saxenda) and semaglutide (also called Wegovy) that work by making you feel fuller and less hungry, according to the NHS.

Both are taken as an injection but can only be prescribed by a specialist weight management service.

There is currently a waiting list of more than a year for treatment, according to the health board.

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board said: “Before being considered for such specialist treatment, we expect all patients referred to the service to engage with our expert dietitians who will provide support to help make and sustain positive dietary, lifestyle and behaviour changes.

“Rather than being a standalone prescription service, our multidisciplinary team of professionals are on hand to support a patient’s weight loss alongside any medication as set out by NICE guidelines for the NHS.”

It added that it was “aware of people using private, unregulated providers to access these drugs” and continued: “We would strongly encourage anyone considering a private weight-loss prescription to obtain it from a reputable provider, such as a private hospital with a weight management consultant, or a reputable pharmacy.”

For more information on the Cardiff and Vale Weight Management Service, you can visit the Keeping Me Well website or call 029 21847681.