Anti-Obesity Medications
Unfortunately, we cannot accept referrals at this current time for the above medications. Please find the latest update on our website. We will update ref help once referrals are open.
Information Section
We provide a specialist service which supports people in Lothian to lead a healthy lifestyle, manage their weight and improve their health. We also offer tailored support for those living with or at risk of Type 2 Diabetes – see refhelp pages listed below for further information
Please refer patients to the service via the referral routes below where our team of health care professionals will triage accordingly to what is best suited to the patients’ needs.
To find out more about the range of programmes we currently offer and other healthy lifestyle resources, please visit our website Adult Weight Management and Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Service – NHS Lothian | Our Services
Bariatric Surgery
There is no direct referral into the bariatric surgical service. All patients who wish to be considered for bariatric surgery are required to successfully complete the Tier 3 weight management programme. Please state their interest in bariatric surgery at the time of referral if this is the case.
The weight management service will then refer patients to the surgical service as appropriate.
If a patient has had bariatric surgery privately or abroad, please refer to the following guidance Non NHS Patients (scot.nhs.uk) or contact the bariatric team on bariatric.service@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk or 0131 242 1615.
If you are looking for information regarding our other service pathways, please find links to these RefHelp pages or website information, below:
- Type 2 Diabetes Remission through Counterweight Plus
Diabetes Remission – RefHelp (nhslothian.scot)
- Type 2 Diabetes Prevention (Pre-Diabetes)
- Type 2 Diabetes Newly Diagnosed (DESMOND)
D. R.M & S.W 08-08-24
Who to refer:
Patients that meet the following criteria:
- Over 18 years old
- BMI of 25 kg/m2 or above or
- BMI of 23 kg/m2 or above (ethnic minorities)
- Patients who are motivated and ready to make lifestyle changes
Who not to refer :
- Patients who have a diagnosis of current eating disorder or potential binge eating disorder. Please see the Cullen Centre Refhelp page Eating Disorders (Adults) and Cullen Centre – RefHelp (nhslothian.scot) for further details.
- Patients with uncontrolled hypothyroidism
- Patients suffering from psychosis or severe and unstable personality disorder
- Patients suffering from alcohol or drug dependency
- Patients who are pregnant (If BMI over 40kg/m2 can be referred by midwives to Metabolic Antenatal Clinic)
- Patients with a learning/intellectual disability who are not able to make independent food choices.
Carers supporting these patients can access training at the following links:
Carers Training Video: https://vimeo.com/showcase/11788149?share=copy
Carers Training Workbooklet: https://policyonline.nhslothian.scot/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Supporting-people-with-a-learning-disability-to-make-healthy-lifestyle-changes.pdf
How to refer:
Referrals are accepted from all health care professionals via SCI-Gateway or email.
The team also accept self-referrals.
SCI Gateway referrals:
AHP – Dietetics – Weight Management – LI Type II Diabetes Remission (Sci-gateway pathway currently being amended but use this drop down at present)
Alternatively, health care professionals or patients can self-refer by completing this form https://services.nhslothian.scot/awmt2d/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2023/07/AdultWeightManagementService-Referral-Form.docx
And emailing this back to loth.weightmanagement@nhs.scot
Contact details:
For general weight management, medication and Type 2 Diabetes remission enquiries contact loth.weightmanagement@nhs.scot
for Lets Prevent Diabetes (LPD) enquires please contact : loth.lpd@nhs.scot
for DESMOND enquires please contact : loth.desmond@nhs.scot
Weight Management Service and Type 2 Diabetes Prevention service website: Adult Weight Management and Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Service – NHS Lothian | Our Services
Links to The Association of UK Dietitions patient information leaflets containing information on dietary advice for various medical problems – https://www.bda.uk.com/food-health/food-facts.html
NHS Inform 12 week online Weight Management Programme
NHS Better Health patient information to aid weight loss and encourage healthy eating – https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/lose-weight
