Discovery Vitality is launching a HealthyWeight programme to support people who may be on GLP-1 weight-loss medicines, offering for nutrition, lifestyle and behaviour change advice – arguing that sustainable weight loss requires more than medicine alone.

The programme, starting at R295 a month, does not help pay for the weight-loss medicines, but is designed to support users to keep weight off for longer.

Discovery has noted that the number of members using these medicines, such as Ozempic and Mounjaro, has increased threefold since 2022. But it notes real-world evidence and its own data suggests many patients discontinue treatment within a year.

Research further shows that around two-thirds of the weight lost may be regained within a year of discontinuing treatment.

Launching a research paper, Beyond Medication, it stated: “For most of medical history, sustained nonsurgical weight loss was largely unattainable.

That has changed. A new generation of medicines now delivers 12-18% average body-weight loss, approaching, for the first time, outcomes previously achievable only through bariatric surgery”

“These medicines have redefined what is possible for people living with obesity,” says Dr Mosima Mabunda, chief clinical officer of Discovery Vitality.

“The question is no longer whether meaningful weight loss can be achieved, but how to help people sustain it.

“While medication can be highly effective, the greatest and most lasting health benefits come when it is paired with evidence-based nutrition, physical activity and behavioural support.”

GLP-1 medicines can cost from R2 500 to over R6 000 or more a month and medical schemes typically require members to pay out of pocket or from day-to-day savings.

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Discovery Health Medical Scheme previously stated that expanding access to GLP-1 medicines requires significant price cuts and collaboration across the health system on funding models.

Obiflex, a doctor-led programme offering virtual GLP-1 consultations and Buy Now Pay Later options for the drugs, this week flagged that medicine costs have “pushed patients toward cheaper, illicit or unregistered alternatives”.

Obesity is persistent and is best treated as early as possible

Obesity becomes harder to reverse over time, says Dinesh Govender, CEO of Discovery Vitality and there is an opportunity to intervene earlier and provide people with the support they need to prevent obesity from becoming a persistent health issue.

“Our analysis found that 70% of people living with obesity remained obese 15 years later, highlighting the persistence of the condition once established.

Discovery analysis shows that people living with obesity have a 52% higher risk of mortality compared with those whose weight is in the healthy range, underscoring the substantial long-term health consequences of excess weight.

Discovery said the R295 monthly fee covers HealthyWeight’s ongoing nutrition, lifestyle and behaviour-change support.

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The R295 monthly fee covers:

• A dietitian in your pocket five days a week, for personalised and structured nutrition guidance, lifestyle coaching and accountability on WhatsApp.
• Tailored weekly meal plans, shopping lists and recipes to simplify healthy eating and help you build healthier eating habits that fit into everyday life.
• If you’re on Vitality, you can join Virgin Active or Planet Fitness without paying an activation fee and get 75% off your local club monthly fees.
• Support to encourage healthy and sustainable weight loss if you’re already using medicine prescribed by your doctor.

Eligible members can access a one-time clinical assessment at no cost, including baseline tests and a virtual consultation with a weight-management doctor.