Local Weight Management services

In England, health professionals have identified four levels of weight management services; these are referred to as tiers: 

Tier 1 For everyone. Designed to promote healthy behaviours and prevention of obesity. Advice and information about diet, nutrition and exercise are provided by specialist health organisations including The Association of UK Dieticians. You can find a range of information on the ICS website and selecting from the menu.

Tier 2 Lifestyle management and behaviour-change support. Can be provided virtually (online), in-person and in groups. You can find out about weight management support services locally by clicking the link for where you live:

• Staffordshire: Everyone Health (face to face only)
• Stoke-on-Trent: There are no Tier 2 services currently available in Stoke-on-Trent. For alternative services, visit Local Weight Management services - Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, ICS.

Tier 3 Specialist multi-disciplinary weight management. A combination of ‘wrap-around’ services to address mental and physical health and support weight loss using a range of pharmacotherapy (prescribed drugs), diet and activity, with specialist clinical oversight. 

Tier 4 Bariatric services. These services support people with severe obesity and long-term health conditions. Services include support for people with complex physical and mental health needs.  

You can find information about weight loss services on the ICS website and selecting the link from the menu.

Patients diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent may be prescribed weight management medication to support their treatment, if they meet certain clinical criteria. 

Patients may be eligible, but only if you meet the criteria.

Mounjaro and Diabetes

Patients who are already prescribed Mounjaro® (Tirzepatide) are supported for this treatment as long as they continue to meet the criteria. Any changes to treatment already started is a clinical matter and should be discussed with your prescriber or clinician in charge of your treatment.

Path to Remission Programme

The NHS Type 2 Diabetes Path to Remission Programme is now available to eligible patients in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent. The programme is a joint initiative by NHS England and Diabetes UK based on strong scientific evidence from the DiRECT and DROPLET trials.

Eligibility criteria require patients to be aged 18-65 and

• have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes within the last six years
• have a BMI of 27 or more (25 or more for some ethnic groups)
• have had an HbA1c test in the past 12 months with results in the required range.

The programme includes a 12-week total diet replacement phase using specially formulated low-calorie products, followed by food reintroduction and ongoing healthy lifestyle support from trained Health Coaches.

This is a referral process, so you can talk to your GP to find out if you are eligible and and discuss this option with them to support your diabetes treatment.

You can read more about the programme.

Useful links

• About The Programme | | Healthier You | Diabetes Prevention
• Staffordshire Connects | Type 2 Diabetes Education (DESMOND)

If you care for a person with a learning disability, they may need help and support to stay a healthy weight.

People with a learning disability are more likely to have problems with their weight. Some people may be underweight because their disability means they have difficulty with swallowing or eating, for example.

Others may be overweight because they have a condition that increases thier risk of obesity, such as Down's syndrome and Prader-Willi syndrome.

If the person you care for needs help to manage their weight, you may be able to refer them directly to services that can help, without seeing a GP. To find out if there are any services in your area:

• ask the reception staff at their GP surgery
• check their GP surgery’s website
• check local weight management services in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent
• search online for NHS weight management services near where they live
• check community notice boards or social media channels for weight management services or community groups which may support weight management.

If the person you look after is on the GP's learning disability register, they will be offered an Annual Health Check. This is a good opportunity to talk about any issues with weight.

You can find out more about managing weight with a learning disability on the NHS website.

The NHS Digital Weight Management Programme supports adults living with obesity who also have a diagnosis of diabetes, hypertension or both, to manage their weight and improve their health.

It is a 12-week online behavioural and lifestyle programme that people can access via a smartphone or computer with internet access. 

You can find out more on the NHS website and on the ICS website.

Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent’s Weight-related Interventions Tailored in Care for Health (SWITCH) is a specialised service to support people with managing the many contributing factors that can make reaching lifestyle and/or weight goals difficult.

It is designed to listen to a participants’ strengths and concerns, and understand the challenges they face, in reaching their personalised lifestyle goals.  The SWITCH multidisciplinary team then aims to offer appropriate assistance in reaching these personalised goals.

You can read more about the SWITCH programme on the ICS website.

Last updated 23 September 2025:

Following approval by NICE, tirzepatide (Mounjaro®) will be available on the NHS for eligible patients who meet the strict, nationally-set, criteria.  

Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board uses the NHS England-set criteria, which states that patients must have:

• A BMI of 40* or higher (at the time of your assessment)
• Four more of these qualifying conditions:
  • hypertension (high blood pressure)
  • dyslipidaemia (abnormal levels of lipids in the bloodstream)
  • obstructive sleep apnoea (when your breathing stops and starts while you sleep)
  • cardiovascular disease (a general term for conditions affecting the heart or blood vessels)
  • type 2 diabetes (a common, chronic condition where the body doesn’t make enough insulin or the insulin it produces doesn’t work effectively, leading to high blood glucose levels).

Patients meeting the above criteria will be eligible for assessment to identify their suitability for Mounjaro. Eligible patients will be invited for assessment by primary care weight management hubs; patients with the most urgent clinical need being invited first.

Anyone not meeting this criteria will not be eligible for assessment in the first year of the drug being available to NHS patients. 

Please do not contact your GP. GPs will not be able to prescribe Mounjaro for weight management alone, but can continue to prescribe for other diagnosed conditions, such as type 2 diabetes.

*Due to an increased risk of health conditions in lower thresholds in these populations, the BMI applied to assess eligibility for Mounjaro® is set at 37.5 for people from South Asian, Chinese, other Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean ethnic backgrounds to ensure equitable clinical prioritisation and access to appropriate treatment. 

You can find more information about weight management medication on the following webpage- Weight Management Medication - Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, ICS

For more information about alternative local weight management services, visit the ICS website - Local Weight Management services - Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, ICS .

Following approval by NICE, tirzepatide (Mounjaro®) will be available on the NHS for eligible patients who meet the strict, nationally-set, criteria.

This criteria applies to all patients who wish to access weight management medication through the NHS, including those who want to change how their medication is provided.

What weight management medication is available through the NHS?

Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICB commissions only one weight management medication to support people living - Mounjaro®.

Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board uses the NHS England-set criteria, which states that patients must have:

• A BMI of 40* or higher (at the time of your assessment)
• Four more of these qualifying conditions:
  • hypertension (high blood pressure)
  • dyslipidaemia (abnormal levels of lipids in the bloodstream)
  • obstructive sleep apnoea (when your breathing stops and starts while you sleep)
  • cardiovascular disease (a general term for conditions affecting the heart or blood vessels)
  • type 2 diabetes (a common, chronic condition where the body doesn’t make enough insulin or the insulin it produces doesn’t work effectively, leading to high blood glucose levels).

Patients meeting the above criteria will be eligible for assessment to identify their suitability for Mounjaro. Eligible patients will be invited for assessment by primary care weight management hubs; patients with the most urgent clinical need being invited first.

Anyone not meeting this criteria will not be eligible for assessment in the first year of the drug being available to NHS patients. 

I've been prescribed a different weight management medication but have been told this will be stopped

The ICB only supports weight management through the Mounjaro medication.

If you are currently being prescribed other weight management medications and your prescription is being stopped or changed, you may still be eligible for the Mounjaro weight management medication. If you are, you will be assessed to confirm you can be prescribed Mounjaro at one the new weight management hubs.

This may mean your weight management treatment may start, be paused or stopped, then started again after being prescribed Mounjaro by the NHS.

I am receiving weight management medication but want to get it through the NHS

If you have been prescribed weight management medication, but want to be prescribed through the NHS, you will need to be assessed to confirm you are eligible for Mounjaro, based on the criteria above.

Even if you are currently receiving weight management medication, but not prescribed by the NHS, you may have to wait to be called in for assessment. Patients whose clinical records show they may be eligible for assessment are being invited in to the new primary care weight management hubs for assessment to check they meet the eligibility criteria before being prescribed any medication.

I am thinking about accessing weight management medication, but not through the NHS

If you are considering accessing weight management medication, but are not eligible for NHS assessment or prescriptions, you will be responsible for providing your own clincical records to your provider. Your GP cannot provide them for you, but they can give them to you so you can pass them on. 

Can I refer myself to the weight management hub to be assessed?

No. The ICB's weight management hubs are not a referral pathway. GPs will not be able to refer patients to the hubs; eligible patients will be invited to attend an assessment based on their medical records and who will have the most clinical benefit. Those most in need will be invited first.

Below you will find the most commonly asked questions about weight management medication:

Mounjaro® | Q&A 

+ Can I access Mounjaro® now through the NHS? 

NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent has developed a hub model to assess patients who meet the eligibility criteria for Mounjaro® and prescribe those suitable to be prescribed Mounjaro®. Patients with the most urgent clinical need will be invited for assessment by one of the hubs. 

+ I was being prescribed weight management injections privately but want to get them through the NHS. Can I? 

You will need to be assessed for eligibility by one of the GP-led hubs before you can be prescribed any weight management medication. 

+ I’ve been told I’m no longer eligible for Mounjaro®. Why? 

As part of your treatment, you will have regular reviews with your clinician or clinical team. Part of these reviews will include assessing your progress and reviewing your eligibility for the programme. Your eligibility may change as you progress through your weight management programme. Your clinician will explain your eligibility and alternative options if your eligibility for the programme changes. 

+ Can I get Mounjaro® prescriptions from my GP? 

GPs cannot prescribe Mounjaro® for weight management alone, but your GP may prescribe it for other health conditions, such as diabetes. If your health records show you may be eligible for Mounjaro®, you will be invited to attend a primary care weight management hub for assessment. 

+ What are the criteria for eligibility? 

The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published recommendations for Tirzepatide (Mounjaro®) but recognised the need for a gradual approach to prioritise treatment for patients. NHS England (NHSE) developed qualifying criteria and patient groups who should be able to access the medication first. 

Patients will be prescribed Mounjaro®® in cohorts with the following criteria: 

Cohort 1 – Live from 23 June 2025, with services opening in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent from Autumn 2025. Patients must have a BMI of 40* or more and have four or more of the five qualifying health conditions. 

Eligible conditions for cohorts 1 to 3 are: 

• hypertension (high blood pressure) 

• dyslipidaemia (abnormal levels of lipids in the bloodstream) 

• obstructive sleep apnoea (when your breathing stops and starts while you sleep) 

• cardiovascular disease (a general term for conditions affecting the heart or blood vessels) 

• type 2 diabetes (a common, chronic condition where the body doesn’t make enough insulin or the insulin it produces doesn’t work effectively, leading to high blood glucose levels). 

Cohort 2 – Starting date TBC. In addition to patients in Cohort 1, the drug will also be offered to patients meeting the criteria for year 2 with a BMI of 35-39.9* and who have four of the five health conditions. 

Cohort 3 – Starting date TBC.  In addition to patients in Cohorts 1 and 2, the drug will also be offered to patients meeting the criteria for year 3 with a BMI of 40* or more and having three of the five qualifying conditions. 

The criteria mean those patients most in need of weight management medication will be able to receive it if they are eligible and want to have the injections. 

*Due to an increased risk of health conditions in lower thresholds in these populations, the BMI applied to assess eligibility for Mounjaro® is set at 37.5 for people from South Asian, Chinese, other Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean ethnic backgrounds to ensure equitable clinical prioritisation and access to appropriate treatment. 

+ I meet the criteria; how do I get a prescription for Mounjaro® for weight management?  

You don’t need to do anything. The primary care weight management hubs which have been set up in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent will be inviting patients in for assessment, and to confirm they are eligible for Mounjaro®. The hubs are a new service, with a limited number of places available for eligible patients, providing ‘wraparound’ support patients prescribed Mounjaro® must commit to as part of this weight management programme. Due to the limited number of places available, the service will be prioritising patients in the most urgent clinical need in year 1, with more spaces becoming available from June 2026 and April 2027. 

+ I meet the criteria for Mounjaro®, but don’t want to take medication or injections. What other options do I have to help me lose weight? 

You don’t have to have medication for weight management if you don’t want to. In Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, there are a range of weight management services available locally. Details can be found on the ICS website, where you can find resources to support nutrition, healthy eating and diet advice, as well as exercise, books, podcasts as well as other online resources. Keep checking this page as we update the information from time to time. 

+ I am eligible for Mounjaro®; what ‘wraparound’ services are available as part of the programme? 

The services you will need will depend on where you live or where it is most convenient for you to access them. Your prescribing clinician will be able to advise you about the services you need, according to your personal circumstances and health needs. You can discuss your options if you are eligible for Mounjaro® following assessment. 

+ Why do I have to wait to be assessed and prescribed Mounjaro®? 

The primary care weight management hubs are a new service, so there are a limited number of spaces available, with a nationally-set, limited budget available to support this weight management programme. Eligible patients with the most urgent clinical need will be invited for assessment, and if prescribed Mounjaro® will be treated first. 

+ Why won’t the ICB change the criteria for eligibility? 

The criteria is nationally-set by NHS England; this ensures everyone has fair and equal access to the medication, treatment and support they need, based on their clinical circumstances. Local health systems, such as the ICB, and providers, such as GPs, cannot change the criteria.  

NICE has committed to reviewing access criteria after year 3 to evaluate the implementation and delivery of Tirzepatide. 

Further details on the prioritisation of availability of Tirzepatide can be found in the NHS England Interim Commissioning Guidance for Tirzepatide. 

Weight loss surgery, also known as bariatric surgery is a Tier 4 service, treating severe, complex obesity. Services include surgery, pos-surgical care and ongoing follow-up care treatment.

Eligibility for weight loss (bariatric) surgery requires patients to have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or above, or a BMI of between 35 and 29,9 with significant co-existing health conditions that could imprive with weight loss, such as type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure. Eligible patients should also have engaged with and completed a Tier 3 specialist weight management programme. Patients must be assessed as medically and psychologically fit for surgery. More information and useful resources are below:

• Weight loss surgery - NHS - for information about weight loss surgery, the different types of surgery available and what they involve, and what recovery from surgery is like
• Weight Loss Surgery Info – for information, support and patient experiences on weight loss surgery
• Obesity Empowerment Network UK is a non-profit, user led, advocacy organisation

Useful resources:

• The Emotional First Aid Kit: A Practical Guide to Life After Bariatric Surgery by Cynthia Alexander
• Living with Bariatric Surgery: Managing your Mind and Your Weight by Dr Denise Ratcliffe

Advice for parents of healthy-weight children

If your child is a healthy weight, there's lots you can do as a parent to help them stay a healthy size as they grow.

Research shows children who stay a healthy weight tend to be fitter, healthier, better able to learn, and more self-confident. They are also much less likely to have health problems now and in later life. 

You can read more about how to keep healthy weight children healthy on the NHS website.

Advice for parents of overweight children

Children can become overweight when they get more energy from food and drink than they use through activity.

Overweight children are more likely to become overweight as adults. This could lead to long-term conditions such as type 2 diabetes. By making changes to their diet and activity levels you can help them reach a healthy weight.

You can read more about making changes to improve the health of overweight children on the NHS website.

Advice for parents of underweight children

There could be several reasons why your child or a child you care for is underweight. If it's because they are not getting enough calories there are things you can do to help them gain weight. 

You can find out more about how to help your child gain weight on the NHS website.

Other useful resources

• Your child 0-5 years - Healthy eating and keeping active
• Your school-age child  (5-19) - Growth and weight concerns
• Talking to your child about weight
• Eating well - early years
• Healthy eating and physical activity
• Healthier families

Healthy eating and portions

• NHS 8 Tips for Healthy Eating
• Healthy Eating Factsheet
• Fruit and Vegetable Factsheet
• Carbohydrates Factsheet
• Fat Factsheet
• Calcium Factsheet
• Fluid Factsheet
• Portion Sizes Factsheet
• Food Labelling Factsheet
• British Heart Foundation Eat Better Booklet
• Food portions
• Healthy eating
• Family recipes
• Recipe finder
• Food and essentials
• Cost of living suport
• Eat Well, Spend Less Factsheet

Concentrated Dietary Approaches

• The Mediterranean diet (heartuk.org.uk)
• About low carb 
• Low carb program 
• Intermittent fasting
• 2 day diet 
• Meal plans and diabetes | Diabetes UK Can also be used by people without Diabetes.

The Dieting Cycle, Dieting Myths, Fad Diets

• The Dieting Cycle
• The Healthy Eating cycle
• British Dietetic Association Fad Diets
• British Heart Foundation Dieting Myths

Support with emotional, disordered or habit triggered eating

• Managing obesity - your mindset
• Emotional eating and feasting
• Talking therapies
• Beating eating disorders
• Managing Emotional Eating at Home – particularly useful for those self-isolating with COVID-19
• Hunger and Fullness Scale
• Triggers to Eating Chart – to differentiate between types of hunger and patterns in hunger
• Eat Right Now – evidence-based daily program to address eating habits and emotional eating

• Physical activity for adults and older adults
• Physical activity for disabled adults
• http://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise
• Find ways to be physically active near you via Active My Way 
• Love activity, hate exercise campaign 
• Active through Stoke

Books

• End Emotional Eating by Jennifer Taitz
• Overcoming Weight Problems by Jeremy Gaunlett-Gilbert & Clare Grace
• Weight Loss for Food Lovers by George Blair-West
• Overcoming Body Image Problems by David Veale, Rob Wilson & Alex Clarke
• The Self-Esteem Workbook by Glenn Schiraldi
• The Joy of Half a Cookie by Jean Kristellar & Alisa Bowman
• Well Nourished by Andrea Leiberstein, RD
• Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat by Dr Michelle May
• Mindful Eating: Free Yourself from Overeating by Jan Chozen Bay

Websites

Visit this online tool to check your motivation and readiness to change.

You can find weight management support online at:

• Obesity UK 
• Obesity Empowerment Network 
• Weight Management - Everyone Health Staffordshire - offers a range of programmes in the community, with both virtual and face to face groups available.
• The Digital Weight Management Programme, Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent- a free, twelve-week online programme, to kickstart your journey to weight loss and better health
• Samaritans
• Mood Gym – online self-help book designed to manage anxiety and depression using CBT-techniques
• Mindfulness – eight-week free mindfulness programme designed to reduce stress
• Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust - Self Help Guides (ntw.nhs.uk)
• Free & Confidential Talking Therapy (staffsandstoketalkingtherapies.nhs.uk) 0300 303 0923
•  

Food facts

• Staffordshire health apps