Nearly three in ten adults in England are living with obesity, while around 5.8 million people in the UK are estimated to have diabetes, including approximately 1.3 million who remain undiagnosed. Obesity is one of the strongest risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, placing increasing pressure on the NHS and creating a growing need for accessible, preventative healthcare services delivered within the community.[9,10]
July 2026's launch of the UK's first oral GLP-1 medicine for weight management – Wegovy® tablets (oral semaglutide) represents another significant milestone in obesity treatment in the UK. The convenience of a once-daily tablet is expected to make GLP-1 therapy accessible to even more people and further increase demand for pharmacy-led weight management services.[6,7]
Community pharmacy has rapidly become a trusted provider of weight management services, combining prescribing, lifestyle advice and ongoing patient support. However, the greatest opportunity may not simply be in supplying medication, but in demonstrating measurable improvements in a patient's overall metabolic health.
Forward-thinking pharmacies can differentiate themselves by offering a complete metabolic monitoring clinic, enabling patients to see improvements not only in weight, but also in blood glucose and cardiovascular risk factors throughout their treatment journey.
You can access and download the full article here.
