Professor Chris Whitty, the UK's chief medical adviser, has warned that relying solely on weight-loss drugs like Mounjaro and Wegovy will not resolve the country's obesity crisis. In a speech in London, he highlighted the unpleasant side-effects of these medications and called for stronger action on junk food advertising and food reformulation.
Whitty expressed scepticism about the widespread use of GLP-1 agonists, contrasting with Health Secretary Wes Streeting's view of them as a 'real gamechanger'. He cautioned against allowing obesity to rise due to aggressive marketing of unhealthy foods to children, only to put them on these drugs at age 18, calling such an approach 'shocking' and 'not medically acceptable'.
The chief medical officer noted that while GLP-1s are effective, weight often returns after stopping, and they can cause severe side-effects including pancreatitis, sight loss, and unexpected pregnancy. He also warned that older users might end up with less muscle mass and more fat than before treatment.
Whitty pointed to France, where obesity levels have remained stable since 1990, as evidence that the crisis can be tackled through policy. He urged the food industry to reduce sugar and fat in products, and criticised 'very strong lobbyists' for deterring ministers from taking bold public health steps, often labelled as 'nanny state' measures.
Health campaigners echoed Whitty's concerns. Sonia Pombo of Action on Salt and Sugar said drugs must not substitute effective food policy, while Katharine Jenner of the Obesity Health Alliance argued it is not commonsense to let children grow up in unhealthy environments only to rely on medicines later. Both called for stronger regulation of advertising and food reformulation.
