Month: December 2018

21 December 2018 Following the release of the DiRECT trial health economics paper this morning by Diabetes UK, Professor Anthony Leeds, Chairman of Total Diet and Meal Replacements Europe (TDMR Europe), the trade association representing the European total diet and meal replacements industry, welcomed the news:

“This analysis of costs and savings confirms what we all suspected. Total Diet Replacements (TDR) are cost effective because they deliver larger amounts of weight loss than conventional diets and greater initial losses are associated in other clinical trials with better weight maintenance later at 6 months, one year and three years later. Larger weight losses give greater metabolic improvement with more people in diabetes remission. Compliance is high because people feel better quickly. They often sleep better and become more mobile as well as gaining the invisible benefits: improved metabolic state and often a lowering of blood pressure. Aside from benefits in diabetes, TDR are proven to reduce pain in osteoarthritis and improve sleep in obstructive sleep apnoea. TDR are nutritionally complete and there is some evidence for improved nutritional status after weight loss with TDR. TDR should now become part of the physicians’ portfolio for first intervention in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes.”

 

NHS England’s recent news that total diet replacements will now be available via an NHS trial to thousands of people with type 2 diabetes was a very welcome announcement for our industry. It’s a testament to how effective our members’ products are and validates the very real impact these could have on the nation’s growing obesity epidemic and its associated diseases. They have proven immensely successful over the years, and with good reason. They provide a safe and effective way to lose weight; they come with support (both one to one and in groups), behavioural therapy and education, and they have been carefully designed to ensure they consist of compositionally sound food products that provide 100% of recommended dietary allowances. NHS England’s news is, we hope, the first step toward making these effective products much more widely available to people across the country who need and can benefit from them.

But what about the rest of the region?

Based on the latest estimates from the EU Commission, over 50% of the entire European population is overweight. The costs to health services of treating the resultant ill health are estimated to be in the region of 7% of total health care expenditure in Europe, with the indirect costs due to loss of productivity, adding as much again. Overall, obesity costs the EU Member States around €59 billion a year from indirect health care costs alone. However, the broader economic impact could be as high as €118 to €236 billion, with rising childhood obesity auguring badly for the future.

We hope that NHS England sets an example that will be replicated across Europe. We believe total diet replacements and meal replacement products can play a significant role in helping address the public health problem of obesity related conditions and it’s what TDMR Europe is constantly working towards: increased awareness of our products and a favourable regulatory and policy environment for the industry, by promoting TDRs and MRPs and establishing them as a safe evidence-based option to tackle the obesity crisis. We focus on an improved understanding of the products, their use and impact on obesity, overweight and diabetes, and we educate policy makers on the importance of investing sufficient resources into helping treat the two thirds of the population who are already obese or overweight, rather than directing all actions and available funding towards prevention.

If you’d like to be part of the conversation, please get in touch with us via secretariat@tdmr-europe.com.

3 December 2018. NHS England has today informed the public about the decision to include total diet replacements (TDR) as part of the NHS action to tackle obesity and related diseases such as type 2 diabetes.

According to Simon Stevens, NHS Chef Executive, the programme will be initially piloted in up to 5,000 people following the Diabetes UK funded DiRECT trial, where almost half of those who went on a very low calorie diet achieved remission of their Type 2 diabetes after one year. A quarter of participants achieved a staggering 15 kg or more weight loss, and of these, 86% put their type 2 diabetes into remission.

Professor Roy Taylor, lead researcher of the DiRECT trial said that this is ‘a hugely important step forward for the NHS, allowing people with type 2 diabetes to return to full health. This approach has gradually been taken up by doctors, nurses and dieticians, but now practical support will be provided.’

Professor Anthony Leeds, Chair of TDMR Europe said: “We are delighted that the very real benefits of total diet replacement products have been recognised and will be used in an effort to tackle our nation’s growing obesity rates and associated diseases. TDRs have drastically improved the lives of thousands across the country by helping them lose weight safely and effectively, and it is marvellous that they will be made available to more of the public who need them. Obesity is not easy to tackle; it takes a tremendous amount of mental, emotional and physical effort. Our products have proven immensely successful over the years, and with good reason. They provide a safe and effective way to lose weight. They come with support from trained consultants, behavioural therapy and  education. They have been carefully designed to ensure that they provide 100% of recommended dietary allowances.”

TDMR Europe is extremely delighted with the announcement made today by NHS England, acknowledging once again the efficacy of Total Diets and Meal Replacement Products in tackling obesity and related diseases.

More information regarding the NHS announcement can be found here.