ukactive CEO David Stalker has raised concerns that people are in danger of promoting a ‘surgery first’ mentality to managing obesity-related conditions in the wake of new draft guidelines from the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE),which is aiming to reduce debilitating weight problems.

Diabetes UK estimates 850,000 people could be eligible for surgery, but NICE expects it to be tens of thousands with the draft guidelines.

A mounting body of evidence suggests a gastric bypass improves symptoms in around 60 per cent of patients suffering from Type 2 diabetes, which is closely linked to lifestyle and obesity, but Stalker argued that with NHS “already bursting at the seams,” money spent on preventable conditions inhibits money being spent on non-preventable conditions.

“Regular physical activity is a halo solution for what we know are essentially lifestyle conditions,” said Stalker. “The key is in inspiring people to engage - that means making the choice easy and enjoyable. Surgery may well improve symptoms for the group of people who qualify, but it feels a bit like amputating a leg and attaching a prosthetic to fix a recurrent knee problem.”

The update strengthens the focus on those with type 2 diabetes and explicitly states that people who have been diagnosed in the past decade and have a BMI over 35 should be assessed for surgery.

Diabetes UK says around 460,000 people will meet the criteria for an automatic assessment under the guidance.