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Community pharmacy obesity pilot programme 

Find out how to access a new pilot programme which will test how community pharmacies and local NHS services can work together to support people living with obesity.

South West London is taking part in the new pilot programme, due to begin from October 2026. 

Participants will also receive wider support to help them improve their health and wellbeing. This may include support with healthy eating, physical activity and behaviour change. 

Who is eligible? 

The eligibility criteria for this pilot programme are different from the criteria used for the national NHS rollout of weight loss medication. 

In South West London, the programme is expected to be available to people: 

  • aged 19 to 49 with type 2 diabetes not treated using insulin, with 
  • a BMI of 35 or above (reduced to 32.5 or above for people from a global majority). 

Eligibility criteria may be refined as the programme develops.

Body Mass Index

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measurement of your weight in kg divided by your height in meter squared. If you do not know your BMI, you can work it out using a free online NHS calculator.

Do I need to contact my GP? 

Patients who may be eligible for the programme will be identified through NHS systems. 

Please do not contact your GP practice or pharmacy to request access to the programme unless you have been invited to take part. 

Is this the same as the national NHS rollout of weight loss medication? 

No. This pilot programme is separate from the national NHS rollout and has different eligibility criteria. The programme will also operate through a different delivery model involving community pharmacies and wider support services. 

Being eligible for one programme does not automatically mean you will be eligible for the other. 

What support will be available? 

The programme is designed to offer more than medication alone. 

Participants will receive wider support to help them achieve and maintain a healthier weight. This may include: 

  • healthy eating advice 
  • physical activity support 
  • behaviour change support 
  • community-based weight management services. 

Further details will be published as the programme develops. 

Where will the programme be available? 

The programme will launch from October 2026. 

Further rollout plans across South West London will be confirmed as the programme develops. 

Weight loss management programmes

In the interim we encourage you to explore existing weight loss options that are already available.

There are several weight loss management programmes you may wish to consider, including:

Specialist weight management services can be accessed via your GP if you meet the criteria.