Weight Loss Medication

Lord Watts Excerpts

Monday 21st July 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

I completely concur with the noble Lord’s last comments. Issues around weight and food choices are exceptionally complex, but the impact on emotional health is enormous. We have to work with the systems and the life sciences sector to make sure that we do proper longitudinal studies that can help NICE in its decision-making process. I cannot comment on NICE’s procedures around this, but it is regarded as an absolute priority by everyone involved.

[Lord Watts (Lab)]

My Lords, should we ask the food industry, which is responsible for obesity, to pay a contribution so that we can extend this service?

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

My noble friend is right that there is a lot of attention on the food industry, and that is why so many programmes are now being targeted against advertising to children, et cetera. We will continue to work to make sure that that industry takes due regard of the impact of its products, and to do everything we can to improve regulation.