Participating pharmacists will provide free advice to patients – who do not need to book an appointment prior to visiting the branch – on how the service works, the treatment options available and lifestyle changes to help support their weight management journey.

Patients can also opt in to either of two private weight management programmes, which are costed separately.

Following a review, the multiple hopes to extend the pilot across its UK network, “to enable more of its pharmacies to offer the free service”, a spokesperson for Rowlands told C+D yesterday (February 3).

The service is available to customers aged 18 years and over and who have a BMI of 25kg/m2 or more, the multiple said.

It follows research conducted by the multiple in December 2021, which found that almost a third (32%) of 2,000 adults polled admitted to not feeling “confident enough to talk to a healthcare professional about any weight concerns they had”, Rowlands said.

 

Available treatment options

 

The pilot offers patients two separate private weight management programmes.

Lipotrim, a total food replacement programme, costs patients £45 for women or £60 for men.

Patients are supplied with one week’s treatment at a time and should expect to lose at least one stone in the first four weeks, Rowlands said.

They should then continue on the programme until their desired weight loss is achieved, before switching to the maintenance programme if appropriate or required.

Meanwhile, a medicated treatment option works to decrease patients’ appetites and reduce their food intake, alongside a calorie-controlled diet.

Pharmacists will supply four weeks of the medicated treatment option, which costs £180, at one time.

Treatment is typically taken for between 3-4 months, Rowlands added, to determine if the desired weight loss of 5% of initial body weight has been achieved.

 

“Friendly approach”

 

Managing director of Rowlands, Nigel Swift commented: “Our pharmacy teams offer comprehensive healthcare advice and a variety of weight management products with a friendly approach that naturally puts customers at ease, and we’re looking forward to welcoming all those looking to take their first step with us.”

The pilot follows the launch of Rowlands’ first “concept pharmacy” in Scotland in September 2021, which offers a “dedicated health station” that provides weight management advice and guidance.

Last month NHS England & NHS Improvement also announced that community pharmacy teams could now refer eligible patients to the twelve-week online NHS weight management programme.