‘Drugs alone not the answer', says top GP as he talks about weight loss jabs
Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi, a regular guest on Channel 4's "Steph's Packed Lunch" and the lifestyle and physical activity lead for the Royal College of General Practitioners, shared this sentiment at a professional development event for the health, fitness, and wellbeing sector.
He was addressing the professionals, at the Bolton Arena Community Sports Village, on the roll-out of GLP-1 drugs, sometimes referred to colloquially as fat jabs or fat pills.
These medicines, which can be taken as tablets or injections, are used to treat type 2 diabetes and can aid weight loss by reducing a patient's appetite.
Dr Al-Zubaidi said: "The roll-out of GLP-1s within primary care is very much the hot topic at the moment.
"It is going to transform how we deliver primary care – and a lot of other things.
"As we roll out GLP-1 therapies in primary care, we must resist the temptation to settle for the minimal scalable model of lifestyle support.
"I was emphasising that people deserve better than that.
"Our patients deserve a comprehensive, multi-component approach – nutrition, behavioural and psychological support, sleep and stress management, physical activity, and addiction care all working in harmony."
His remarks come during an ongoing debate within the fitness sector about the role of GLP-1s in addressing obesity.
The event was hosted by the LFX network in partnership with GM Active, a group made up of 12 leisure and community organisations – including Bolton Arena – that manage most publicly owned leisure and physical activity facilities on behalf of the 10 authorities across Greater Manchester.
GM Active chair, Andy King, said: "It's not often a 'moment in time' occurs that you know will be considered a 'turning point' in the future, yet this event will be one of those, I am sure.
"Thanks to the LFX network, GM Active is set fair to really understand how we can support those people who, through one way or another, have opted to utilise these tools to assist them to lose weight and help them to sustain their gains for the longer term through pragmatic and people-centred, wrap-around support."
READ MORE:
Bolton charity boss honoured with invite to Palace garden party
Three Bolton businesses named for not paying minimum wage
'Top local chippy' nominated for award - cast your vote
Dr Al-Zubaidi added: "The fitness professionals in that packed room have shown they're ready to play their part – now it's time for all of us to turn that eagerness into action."
Neil Hutchinson, managing director of Bolton Arena Community Sports Village, said: "We've been working on a new health and wellbeing strategy for Bolton over the last six months, so I was keen to host this event and be at the front of this discussion.
"We aim to be on the front foot with this in Bolton and ready to support local GPs and primary care in this revolutionary healthcare development."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
21 hours ago
- New York Post
Ozempic users aged backwards by more than 3 years in new trial
An astonishing new trial suggests that Ozempic may help users not only drop pounds but also turn back time. In the first trial to directly measure the impact of semaglutide on aging, half of the participants were given a weekly injection of Ozempic while the other half received a placebo for 32 weeks. 'Those on semaglutide drug became, on average, 3.1 years biologically younger by the end of the study,' diagnostic researcher Varun Dwaraka reported. The placebo group showed no significant change in biological age over the same period. Researchers believe these powerful anti-aging qualities are related to Ozempic's effect on fat distribution and metabolic health. millaf – While everyone knows their chronological age, medical experts often speak in terms of biological or 'phenotypic' age, which measures factors like metabolism, inflammation, and organ function. Researchers note that the anti-aging effects of GLP-1 varied across the body's systems. The most dramatic improvements were to the brain and inflammatory system, where the drug, originally developed to treat diabetes, appeared to delay biological aging by nearly 5 years. The teams also noted significant improvement in the heart and kidneys. 'The drug may not only slow the rate of aging, but in some individuals partially reverse it,' Dwaraka said. Researchers believe these powerful anti-aging qualities are related to Ozempic's effect on fat distribution and metabolic health. In essence, excess fat around the body's organs promotes the release of pro-aging molecules. Obesity causes low-grade chronic inflammation, which is when the body's natural chemical response to an irritant or injury remains active long after the threat has passed. GLP-1 drugs indirectly reduce inflammation through weight loss. The meds can also activate specific T cells — white blood cells key to the immune system — which can have anti-inflammatory effects. 'The drug may not only slow the rate of aging, but in some individuals partially reverse it,' a researcher on the study said. Ilzer/ – By reducing excess fat and inflammation, two hallmarks of epigenetic aging, the drug effectively slows the cruel march of deterioration. The use of GLP-1 medications has proliferated in recent years. A recent KFF health poll revealed that 12% of US adults have taken an Ozempic-like drug at some point. Despite the promising results, Dwaraka said caution and patience are called for. 'Prescribing it more broadly as an anti-ageing therapy is premature,' he said. However, he and his team are hopeful their research will inspire further studies and support the repurposing of existing drugs to treat age-related problems, as these established medications are more likely to be fast-tracked for approval and come without the risk of unforeseen side effects. 'Semaglutide may well emerge as one of the most promising candidates in this space,' Dwaraka concluded. GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy have been linked to a host of benefits beyond diabetes management and weight loss, from reduced dementia risk and decreased cancer risk to addiction treatment.
CNBC
2 days ago
- CNBC
From Starbucks to Smoothie King, restaurants seek to cash in on consumers' protein frenzy
Restaurant chains are joining in on the protein frenzy, hoping to encourage diners to pay more for extra macronutrients during a time when many consumers aren't spending as much. From "gym bros" to users of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, many Americans are trying to add more protein to their diets, with the goal of building or maintaining their muscle mass and feeling more satiated after meals. Moreover, diet trends that don't emphasize protein intake, such as the ketogenic diet, have fallen out of favor. "A lot of younger consumers are more proactive about their health habits, so they're looking for ways to support health now but also to support their health in the future," said Julia Mills, a food and drink analyst for market research firm Mintel. "Generation Alpha, Gen Z, millennials — these consumers are very active on social media, so they're constantly being fed this message that you need more protein, and protein helps you gain muscle and makes you stronger." Roughly a third of consumers said they loved high protein in the second quarter of 2025, up from 24% three years ago, according to Datassential, which tracks restaurant menus and consumer preferences. The trend has fueled a protein takeover in grocery store aisles, from protein-packed Eggo waffles to Khloe Kardashian's Khloud protein popcorn. But it's also hitting the menus of restaurants that are seeking ways to encourage diners to pay for premium food and drinks. Take Starbucks, for example. The coffee giant said in late July that it will roll out a cold foam packed with 15 grams of protein later this year; the regular cold foam add-on typically costs customers an extra $1.25 per drink. The new foam comes as the chain's U.S. sales have been shrinking for the past year as coffee drinkers brew their java at home or seek out trendier options. Rival Dutch Bros launched a protein coffee in early 2024 and charges customers an extra $1 for the customization. The menu addition fueled strong same-store sales growth and profits for the upstart chain. Eateries are seeking to attract diners like Jared Hutkowski, a 42-year-old director of brokerage in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He works out six days a week and tries to hit his daily protein goal to improve his physique and overall health. When he dines out, he tries to maximize his protein, although he sometimes goes for pizza anyway. "The biggest factor is what I am in the mood for that day, and then I normally try and select a meal that has a least a serving of some type of protein in it," Hutkowski said. This year, 28.4% of U.S. restaurant menus call out "protein," up from 5.9% a decade ago, according to Datassential. And the trend looks like it has staying power. Datassential predicts that by 2029, more than 40% of eateries will highlight protein on their menus. "Protein is one of those things that's never been vilified, because no one's ever said that eating too much protein can be bad for you," Mintel's Mills said. In the short term, consuming more protein than your body needs likely won't cause health issues, but in the long term, it could cause kidney problems, according to Diane Han, a registered dietitian based in San Francisco and the founder of Woking Balance Wellness. The recommended daily amount of protein intake varies by body weight but is roughly 46 grams for women and 56 grams for men, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For restaurants, protein's step change happened several years ago. In 2021, protein only had a menu penetration of 11.5%; by 2022, more than a quarter of restaurant menus used the term, based on Datassential data. That year, Dine Brands' IHOP, for example, introduced pancakes with 18 grams of protein per flapjack. Fast-casual eateries are the restaurant segment most likely to call out protein on their menus, thanks to the common practice of asking customers to pick their protein or offering to double their portion, according to Datassential. Fast-casual salad chain Sweetgreen introduced a line of "protein plates" in late 2023 as part of an effort to introduce more hearty options for dinner customers. The menu addition has helped the company grow its dinner business from 35% of sales to about 40%, executives said in March. Many restaurants are also leaning into U.S. consumers' desire for convenience. Accessibility may be why Datassential found that consumers tend to prefer protein-packed beverages. For Smoothie King, protein has been a menu staple since its founding more than 50 years ago. But in October, the chain took one step further, launching a menu aimed at consumers who take GLP-1 drugs for weight loss or diabetes. The rapid weight loss that can occur from the medications can cause muscle mass to drop, so doctors often advise patients to increase their protein intake to maintain their muscle. "It's a convenient, on-the-go way to get in your protein that you're looking for in your diet," said Lori Primavera, Smoothie King's vice president of research and development and product marketing. Many restaurants are also choosing to highlight existing protein-packed options, rather than adding new menu items that would slow down kitchens or add to much complexity to their operations. For example, Panda Express introduced its own protein plates earlier this year. The line, created in partnership with a registered dietitian, includes pre-existing menu items but packages them as a balanced meal, highlighting protein and fiber content. Chipotle Mexican Grill employed a similar strategy back in 2019 when it introduced "lifestyle bowls," marketed to fit different dietary goals, like the paleo diet or offering double protein. Likewise, in July, Chick-fil-A put the spotlight on its own high-protein options in a company blog, highlighting its grilled nuggets and the Cool Wrap, which features a grilled chicken breast, cheese and lettuce in a tortilla. But for the eateries that want to add new menu items, nachos with a choice of protein, restaurant-made protein bars and egg dishes that highlight high protein content are all increasingly popular options, according to Datassential trendologist Claire Conaghan. Eggs are one reason why breakfast, brunch and lunch eatery First Watch has always been "protein forward," CEO Chris Tomasso told CNBC. The chain hasn't adjusted its menu specifically to address consumers' demand for more protein, but TikTok influencers have highlighted how to order a high-protein meal when visiting its restaurants. "We hope that continues to be a trend because we're right down the middle of the fairway on that," Tomasso said. Of course, protein isn't the only way to win over health-conscious consumers. Hutkowski said his primary issue with eating at restaurants is that most of the food is cooked in oils, butter and heavy greases that rapidly add to his intake of fats for the day. "A restaurant finding cleaner ways to cook would be much more attractive to me than overly loaded protein dishes," he said.
The Hill
3 days ago
- The Hill
NYC identifies 3 new 9/11 victims who died at World Trade Center
Three new victims of the 9/11 attacks were identified this week by New York medical officials, nearly 24 years after the deadliest terrorist attack in American history. The New York City (NYC) Office of the Chief Medical Examiner identified Ryan Fitzgerald from New York, Barbara Keating from California and a third unnamed woman through DNA analysis. 'Each new identification testifies to the promise of science and sustained outreach to families despite the passage of time. We continue this work as our way of honoring the lost,' the chief medical examiner Dr. Jason K. Graham said in a Thursday statement. The examiners' office continues to reach out to family members for DNA reference samples' in its effort to identify victims. The Sept. 11, 2001, attack on the World Trade Center resulted in 2,753 deaths. According to the Medical Examiner's office, the three victims identified this week are the 1,651 st, 1,652 nd and 1,653 rd victims. About 1,100 victims of the deadly Al-Qaeda attacks remain unidentified. 'The pain of losing a loved one in the September 11th terror attacks echoes across the decades, but with these three new identifications, we take a step forward in comforting the family members still aching from that day,' Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement.
