Practice nurses seeing increase in patients asking about weight loss jabs
General practice nursing staff have described an increase in patients enquiring about weight loss medications and having to manage ‘disappointment and frustration’ when this is not available.
A Nursing in Practice survey of almost 500 general practice nursing staff found that more than 5% of nurse consultations had been about weight loss drugs between 23 June and 21 July 2025.
They survey asked general practice nursing staff in England if any of their interactions with patients had involved the weight loss drug tirzepatide since commissioners were told to roll out the drug in primary care on 23 June 2025.
Many of the respondents who completed the survey described how patients were often discussing weight loss medications during diabetes consultations, and others said there had been increased interest in weight loss jabs more widely since tirzepatide was made available in GP practices to those eligible.
The survey findings showed that over 10% of nurses have had either one in 10 (11%) or one in 20 (12%) patients enquire about weight-loss medication since 23 June.
At the same time, almost 40% of respondents said they had either ‘none’ (19%) or ‘hardly any’ (18%) patients bring up weight loss medications during consultations.
‘Increasing’ interest
Many survey respondents described the pressure that practice nurses have felt given rising interest in weight loss medications, especially in recent months.
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One general practice nurse told Nursing in Practice that there are ‘high expectations from patients’, when it comes to weight loss medications.
Another advanced nurse practitioner (ANP) said interest ‘has been increasing dramatically’.
A different ANP described a ‘constant stream’ of questions from patients, with staff having to manage ‘disappointment and frustration’ in consultations when weight loss medications or not available or suitable.
One nurse manager described how their practice takes a different approach to weight loss support for patients with diabetes.
‘Our patients have been advised that we are unable to offer this [tirzepatide] as a weight loss treatment due to a lack of infrastructure and support services from secondary care. Our diabetes patients, however, will be offered the treatment if deemed appropriate,’ they explained.
Privately accessing weight loss medications
Some respondents described how patients were privately purchasing weight loss medications and visiting their practice for follow up care.
‘Many patients are having this privately and it is the side effects of this drug that we are seeing them for in general practice,’ one ANP said.
A senior practice nurse recalled how patients who had been privately sourcing their weight loss medication were now asking to be prescribed them on the NHS.
Another ANP said: ‘Most patients are asking for “free” Mounjaro.’
‘Part of a toolkit’
Callum Metcalfe-O’Shea, Royal College of Nursing (RCN) UK professional lead for long term conditions and an ANP specialising in diabetes care, told Nursing in Practice that the rise in interest for weight-loss drugs is having an impact on diabetic patients and could prevent these patients accessing the medications they need.
‘That could be a concern for the future,’ Mr Metcalfe-O’Shea warned.
Looking ahead, he said that nursing staff must ‘recognise and consider’ which patients are at highest-risk and most need weight loss medications.
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‘But that’s not always easy,’ he said.
‘I think it’s about looking at weight loss drugs as part of this toolkit when it comes to diabetes,’ Mr Metcalfe-O’Shea said.
Beyond weight-loss medications, Mr Metcalfe-O’Shea highlighted the difference that lifestyle changes like exercise classes and diet management can have for patients with diabetes.
‘There may be local services that you can refer patients to depending on what’s available.
‘So, having a knowledge of what’s available locally and available to patients outside medicinal routes is really important for nursing staff to think about.’
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The MHRA said weight loss drugs should not be used during pregnancy, while trying to get pregnant or during breastfeeding.
Methodology:
This survey was open between 2 July and 21 July 2025, collating responses using the SurveyMonkey tool. The survey was advertised to our readers via our website and email newsletter, with a prize draw for a £1,000 voucher as an incentive to complete the survey, alongside our sister publications. The survey was unweighted, and we do not claim this to be scientific – only a snapshot of the general practice nursing population. For this question, 480 respondents in England were asked: ‘Roughly how many of your interactions with patients have involved the weight loss drug tirzepatide (either as the main issue or as a “while I’m here”) since 23 June, the date commissioners were told to roll out the drug in primary care?’
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