Torbay’s obesity crisis: Why weight loss needs more than a jab

Torbay is facing a growing public health crisis.

With one of the highest obesity rates in the South West, the Bay is seeing more cases of Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and mental health issues. As the NHS struggles under the weight of preventable conditions, “miracle” weight-loss jabs like Ozempic and Wegovy are gaining popularity — but they are no quick fix.

Originally developed for Type 2 diabetes, these GLP-1 injections reduce appetite by slowing digestion and increasing the feeling of fullness. Their weight-loss benefits are dominating headlines and demand is soaring. For many, the results can be life-changing — easing joint pain, reversing diabetes risk, improving mobility. But there’s a catch.

Read next: Former Torbay GP Peter Moore urges caution over the popularity of so called cures to obesity

Side effects such as nausea and fatigue are common. More importantly, most people eventually have to stop treatment, and when they do, the weight often returns. A recent trial found patients regained around two-thirds of the weight lost after stopping Wegovy. Similar results are emerging with Mounjaro, another new medication.

At present, Wegovy is available on the NHS only to people with serious weight-related conditions and a high BMI, and then only for a two-year period. Mounjaro will be prescribed more widely, but most of the 1.5 million people using these drugs in the UK are paying privately — with little NHS support once treatment ends.

That’s where the real challenge lies. Without education, structure and lifestyle support, the cycle repeats: weight comes off, then goes back on. NICE guidance is clear that long-term success requires more than medication. Patients need to build habits, monitor themselves, and connect with local support services. As Professor Jonathan Benger of NICE put it: “Successful weight management doesn’t end when medication stops. The transition period after treatment is crucial.”

And in Torbay, that transition matters more than ever. Access to healthy food and public health services varies across the Bay, and health inequalities run deep. Medication alone will not address those gaps. We need community-based solutions: diet programmes, accessible exercise, education on budgeting for healthy food, and mindset coaching to help people stay on track.

As a 1:1 Diet consultant working in Torbay, I’ve seen first-hand what difference structure and accountability make. One client reduced her HbA1c from 52 to 35 after losing eight stone - not just through medication, but with support and a plan. Another was told she was no longer at risk of diabetes after just a few months of lifestyle change.

Maintenance is the real work. Losing weight is only the first step; keeping it off takes portion control, active living and emotional resilience. Even with the new generation of drugs, people need these tools to succeed long term.

Professor Kamila Hawthorn from the Royal College of GPs puts it well: “There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to obesity. Prevention is just as important - stopping people becoming overweight in the first place.”

For Torbay, that means investing not just in prescriptions, but in people. Empowering residents to cook balanced meals, explore affordable activity, and change habits for good. It also means reframing the conversation - away from blame and toward compassion and community.

Weight-loss injections can offer hope, especially for those at serious health risk. But they’re not the answer on their own. If Torbay is to tackle its obesity crisis meaningfully, it must build support systems that last longer than a jab. Because real change doesn’t come from a needle - it comes from people, persistence and community.