Huge demand for new obesity drugs risks overwhelming NHS, Streeting told

More than 200 doctors and experts warn health secretary of ‘enormous pressure’ on already stretched services

Weight-loss injections are not the “holy grail” of solving the obesity crisis, although they will play an important role in how the NHS treats the disease, the medical director of NHS England has said.

Speaking at a conference hosted by the King’s Fund on Wednesday, Prof Stephen Powis said weight loss drugs were revolutionary and “a very welcome addition to the everyday treatment options we have available within the NHS to manage obesity”.