From this week, the weight loss drug, Mounjaro, will be available from GPs in the UK and doctors' surgeries are understood to be bracing themselves for huge demand.

Until now the medication has only been available through specialist weight-loss clinics, or privately, with people paying up to £200 a month to get it via a pharmacy. It's believed that 1.5 million people are currently taking the drugs in the UK, with the majority of them paying for it.

The drug will be offered to people who have a BMI of more than 40 and at least four other health problems linked to obesity including high blood pressure or Type 2 diabetes.

The Royal College of General Practitioners has raised concerns that overstretched GPs will not have a big enough workforce to deal with the demand, which will involve check-ups and wraparound care and some doctor's surgeries have posted notices on their websites asking people not to get in touch unless they meet all the criteria.

This is is an ideal opportunity for the industry to reach out to local surgeries with the offer of support from upskilled fitness professionals.

It is also a further call to action for the industry to communicate the message that lifestyle change must go alongside the drug use, and that strength training is essential, in order to avoid the doom scenario laid out by HCM editor, Liz Terry, in a recent edition of HCM.

It is also time to ensure fitness professionals are equipped to work with this cohort, who will hopefully find their way to health clubs to do the all-important strength training. Future Fit has been the first to market with a qualification, which is a collaboration with Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi.

If you're delivering training for those on weight loss drugs, or developing relevant qualifications to upskill fitness professional, we'd be interested to hear from you.

Contact the HCMnewsdesk on [email protected].