Soup and smoothie diets will be rolled out across the country in a bid to reverse rising levels of type two diabetes, the head of the NHS has announced.
Amanda Pritchard said trials have shown that the program, which helps dieters cut up to 800 calories a day, can “truly be life-changing.”
Initial results found that about half of those who followed the strict regimen achieved remission of the condition, and many remained disease-free five years later.
It is already offered in some parts of England, with a typical weight loss of two kilos achieved in three months.
NHS boss Amanda Pritchard says the soup and smoothie program can “really change the lives” of people who need to lose weight.
Dieters are given a low-calorie, nutrient-rich diet of soups and smoothies, totaling about 800 calories per day for 12 to 20 weeks.
Coinciding with the European Congress on Obesity in Venice, health officials are today announcing the implementation of the weight loss plan in all parts of the country.
Costing around £1,100 a head, more than 50,000 people are expected to sign up in England over the next five years, with £13m set aside for expansion next year.
Under the program, participants receive a low-calorie, nutrient-dense diet of soups and smoothies, totaling about 800 calories per day for 12 to 20 weeks.
They also receive support from a nurse or dietician to reintroduce healthy foods and maintain weight loss while stopping type 2 diabetes and blood pressure medications.
Amanda Pritchard, chief executive of the NHS, said the expansion of the “transformative programme” showed the health service is leading the way internationally.
“Developing type 2 diabetes can have a devastating impact on many people and their families,” he said.
“This NHS program can truly change their lives by helping to reverse the effects of this condition, reducing the risks of major health complications and helping them stay healthy in the long term.”
More than 10,000 people will be offered the scheme next year as the program expands, reaching 50,000 people in 2029.
Research showed sustained weight loss thanks to the program, with people generally losing 22 pounds (10 kilos) after a year.
Nine out of 10 cases of type 2 diabetes are attributed to excess weight
Offered through GP referral, anyone aged 18-65 diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in the last six years with a BMI of at least 27kg/m2 (or 25kg/m2 in black, Asian and ethnic) will be eligible for the scheme.
Mrs Pitchard added: “I am delighted that thousands of people have already accessed this NHS support to improve their health and that many thousands more will benefit this year as we roll it out across all areas of England.”
Research involving 838 participants showed sustained weight loss thanks to the program, with people generally losing 22 pounds (10 kilos) after a year.
Led by the University of Leeds, it came alongside a study from Leeds Beckett University in Leeds which found participants felt positive about being referred to the strict regime.
Its initial success has so far seen more than 2,000 people start treatment on NHS England’s low-calorie diet program and leaders hope it will reduce the rising costs of obesity.
Cases of diabetes in the UK have doubled in the last 15 years as obesity rates soared, and it is estimated that more than five million people suffer from the condition, 90 per cent from type two.
Nine out of 10 cases of type 2 diabetes are attributed to excess weight.
England’s National Health Service currently spends around £10 billion a year (around 10 per cent of its budget) on diabetes detection and treatment. In addition, health services spend at least £6.5 billion a year on obesity treatment.
Almost 4.3 million people were living with diabetes in 2021/22. And another 850,000 people have diabetes and are completely unaware of it, which is worrying because untreated type 2 diabetes can lead to complications such as heart disease and stroke.
The University of Leeds study found the intervention to be “cost-effective” but warned of the high costs of implementing the scheme, given the number of people with diabetes in the UK.
The disease has historically been considered a condition of older people, but type two cases are now increasing more rapidly in younger people than among the middle-aged.
Type 2 diabetes is linked to a number of serious health problems, including kidney failure, lower limb amputation, heart attacks, strokes and some cancers.
NHS National Clinical Director for Diabetes and Obesity, Dr Clare Hambling, said: “The implementation of this innovative program across NHS England provides a holistic and compassionate way to support people living with type 2 diabetes and overweight or obese.”
It follows the Diabetes Remission Clinical Trial (DiRECT), which found that patients with type 2 diabetes can go into remission if they follow an intensive weight loss plan, without the need for medications to control the condition.
Updated findings last year found that a quarter of those remaining in remission at two years were still here five years later, considered a medical milestone as it reduces the chances of the disease returning.
Colette Marshall, chief executive of Diabetes UK, said: “Diabetes UK is proud to have funded over a decade of research that has forged new frontiers for people with type 2 diabetes and put remission on the map.”
“We are delighted that NHS England’s Type 2 Diabetes Pathway to Remission program has already helped thousands of people on their weight loss and remission journey, and this expansion means many more people with diabetes type 2 will benefit.
“Type 2 diabetes is caused by a variety of factors, from genetics to where the body stores fat, and our food environment also plays a big role. Remission of type 2 diabetes can transform health and well-being and potentially reduce the risk of serious long-term complications of diabetes.’