Would a GP prescribe vouchers for meal replacement diet?

[Toomuchtooyoung01]

In a nutshell I have an enormous amount of weight to lose. About 7 stone ideally. I’m very short and am morbidly obese. The weight is making me extremely depressed and I have zero energy (baby doesn’t sleep for more than an hour at a time). I have no head space for meal planning at the moment with two children and zero help (OH always at work, no other help available). I feel desperate. Would a GP prescribe vouchers for a meal replacement plan such as the Cambridge diet? Does anyone know how this would work? Thankyou x

Not in the north west where I live.....if your BMI is over 35 , you would be entitled to a free gym for pass for 3 months

Why do you expect a weight loss diet to be available on prescription? Can't you pay from it from your food budget which presumably is quite high for your own food?

Look up the NHS low calorie diet plan online. I don't know if you have type 2 diabetes? That is one of the criteria, along with obesity measured by BMI.

It would definitely be worth making an appointment to discuss this with your gp. Even if you can't get funding on a meal replacement programme, you can ask to be referred to a dietician and if you can prove some weight loss you can be put on the waiting list for bariatric surgery.

Good luck . Any changes at the moment will be positive for you but you need to ask for the help.

You're still a decent worthy person, whatever your size. I'm sorry you're feeling so down

Here they wouldn't, perhaps it varies by trust though. Have you identified what has led to weight gain? Perhaps they would be better to address the underlying reason, be it physical or emotional.

If you decide to pay for it yourself There are a variety of meal replacement diets available, I think when I looked into it, Shake that weight was the cheapest.

There is a very low calorie diet using meal replacement shakes as a diabetes remission project in some areas but only if you have type 2 diabetes and fit the other criteria. Most areas will have a weight management programme and exercise referral of some sort. See your GP and ask to be referred
www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-weight/start-the-nhs-weight-loss-plan this is very good

@PostMenWithACat

Why do you expect a weight loss diet to be available on prescription? Can't you pay from it from your food budget which presumably is quite high for your own food?

I think that's an unnecessarily barbed comment. Would you suggest anyone suffering with an addiction paid for their own treatment? An alcoholic could save all the money they spent on booze and book themselves into the priority instead?

A meal replacement plan on the NHS isn't just about food, it's about providing 1 to 1 support and guidance, therapy and after the 12 weeks; helping to reintroduce food in a controlled way.

Overeating or emotional eating and the resultant obesity with all its co morbidities is costing the NHS far more money than the NHS funding restricted diet plans.

I was aware of there being weight loss support/meal replacement plans being granted to some patients struggling with their weight but wasn’t sure of the criteria. Thanks for clearing that up.

And @PostMenWithACat Thanks for the unnecessarily bitchy comment x

Did that make you feel good @MrsFin and @PostMenWithACat?

It does cost quite a bit extra to use a meal replacement diet. Because you’re shopping for a family so the food one person eats doesn’t make a huge impact on that budget.

OP, only way to find out is to ask as it will vary from one area to another.

It doesn't make me "feel good" No.
But neither do I think that I should be subsidising her weight loss when her overall food spend would be less if she ate a diet designed to lose worse.
I'm overweight too. I know how it feels, but I wouldn't expect other people to pay for me to lose weight.

My apologies if offence was caused. The comment wasn't meant in the way it came across.

I'm not sure shakes are really the answer - you need to change habits.

I totally get feeling sleep deprived and not wanting the mental load of cooking etc. Could you get a meal kit, so at least you know how many calories are in? I only pick 10 min gousto recipes. I've got a chronic pain condition and a toddler which is a rotten combo, I know get salads delivered so I remember to eat lunch. It might sound lazy but it's worth it for me.

The Tesco brand slim fast equivalent are very cheap.

Have you looked at meal boxes? I was quite impressed by Hello Fresh. I'm a vegetarian so only tried vegetarian recipes but was surprised by the low calories in a lot of those meals. The portion sizes were generous too. I have a big appetite and was left full but DH couldn't finish all of his meals.

@MrsFin

It doesn't make me "feel good" No. But neither do I think that I should be subsidising her weight loss when her overall food spend would be less if she ate a diet designed to lose worse. I'm overweight too. I know how it feels, but I wouldn't expect other people to pay for me to lose weight.

Luckily the NHS doesn't function like that, it sounds like you would be opposed to many treatments offered if that's your attitude. Losing weight is often more complex than just buying different food and watching the weight fall off, your comment added nothing of any value to OP or the thread.

If you're over 35 on BMI - you may be referred to the NHS surgical weight loss pathway. I had weight loss surgery 5 months ago and I'm nearly 5 stone down. It's changed my life

@StylishMummy I would be terrified to go down the surgical route. What did you have done/how did it go (if you don’t mind me asking!)

Thankyou to everyone who has posted helpful/kind/understanding responses xx

Your chance of going from obese to a normal BMI and staying there for 5 years is less than 1 in 1200.

I had a gastric sleeve - so reducing the stomach capacity. I was referred on the NHS but paid privately as I didn't want to wait. Honestly - being healthy is so worth it and the surgery is keyhole and minor

Wait for dietitian is currently around 2-3 months in our area.
Then they see you once.

Dr Michael Moseley spoke of a 12 week programme supported by the NHS where shakes were used to significantly drop weight in a short period of time , mainly to reverse or improve the health of type 2 diabetics
It's also possible to get a voucher for 12 weeks Slimming world

I buy Superdrug shakes .. I love the Cafe Latte and Caramel Dream especially when 2 boxes for £8 !
They also do chocolate banana and strawberry , there's a new Chai Latte but it was vile

I don’t know why peoooe are attacking the poster it’s a valid comment on cost

Op, it’s not quite clear why if you can afford food you can’t afford meal replacements, surely if you reduce spending on one you can spend on the other? You’d probably be better off too?

What is available will vary in different areas. You may be able to find out what is available in your area by looking at your GP website, CCG website, or googling Tier 1 and Tier 2 weight management for your area. From the list available decide what you think would suit you best, then contact your GP to discuss. If you submit e consults at your surgery helpful to have a recent weight, waist measurement if possibl, and if you happen to have a blood pressure machine available check this too.