U.K. NHS Providing Over 1 Million Prescriptions For Obesity Drugs

January 31, 2008 6:15 p.m. EST

London, England (AHN) - A significant portion of U.K.'s public health funds are spent on obesity prescription drugs. According to the National Health Service, in 2006, prescriptions for orlistat and sibutramine reached one million, an eight-fold increase compared to 1999 figures.

The obesity pills, which has a staggering bill of $94.3 million USD (47.5 million GBP), indicate how Britain, like many western and industrialized countries, is grappling with an overweight population that could wreak havoc on the nation's health cost.

Orlistat, known by its brand name Xenical, prevents the absorption of some kinds of fat in the intestine. Sibutramine, more popularly known as Reductil, alters chemical messages in the brain to control hunger pangs.

The other obesity medication being prescribed by general practitioners under the NHS include mazindol, rimonbant, phentermine and diethylpropion-hydrochloride.

The huge bill was caused not only by the growing number of obese Britons, but also the escalating cost of the obesity drugs. In 1999, each prescription averaged $75.45 (38 pound), by 2006 it had increased to $89.37 (45 pound).

According to the NHS, 21 percent of British men and 23 percent of British women are obese. To battle the growing health menace, the government launched last week a $739 million (372 million pound) program last week aimed at curbing obesity in the country. It includes compulsory cooking lessons for school children where they will be taught how to prepare healthy meals, and compulsory physical exercise times during school hours.