Month: August 2022

Diabetes is among the main public health challenges that Europe is facing today. According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), in Europe an estimated 61 million adults were living with diabetes in 2021. The IDF projects that diabetes prevalence will increase to 13% of the adult population by 2045.

A recent blog post by the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations emphasised that timely prevention and effective treatment are key to addressing type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and stressed the impact of this health condition on the European economy. The author emphasised the importance of the primary care sector in addressing diabetes but gave no clues as to what needed to be done, other than provide more staff, training and resources. As policy makers, healthcare professionals and other stakeholders are looking at how best to tackle T2DM, it is crucial to explore all options available.

Obesity and overweight are the leading risk factors for T2DM, and there is an increasing evidence base within scientific literature showing that weight reduction is the most important component of T2DM prevention, along with increased physical activity and optimal composition of the maintenance diet. While lifestyle and conventional diet changes or, in the more severe cases, bariatric surgery can support weight loss and maintenance, it is important that other options are also reviewed.

Total diet replacements (TDRs) provide safe and effective weight loss for people living with obesity and overweight. TDMR Europe, the trade body representing the sector, has recently organised two educational events to review the latest research on obesity and T2DM.

The online seminars “Diabetes Remission: Maintenance after weight loss with TDR” and “TDR: exploring sustainable weight loss and health benefits, including diabetes remission and prevention” highlighted how weight loss with TDR can help improve and T2DM put into remission. In addition, the webinars showed that TDR provides a cost-effective contribution to the fight against this public health issue, which is important at a time when healthcare service resources are increasingly under pressure.

Experts who spoke at the events explained that the PREVIEW trial provided strong evidence for the use of an initial weight loss with TDR as the first stage of a diabetes prevention programme. All diabetes prevention programmes have shown that the greater the initial weight loss and subsequent weight loss maintained then the smaller the number of people who develop diabletes. In PREVIEW TDR delivered an average 10.3 kg weight loss in 8 weeks. Similarly, the DiRECT study, undertaken in a primary care setting, saw almost half of those who went on a low-calorie diet with TDR achieve remission of their T2DM after one year. A quarter of participants achieved a 15kg or more weight loss, and of these, 86% put their T2DM into remission. A more recent trial that used TDR, called DROPLET and also undertaken in a primary care setting, has demonstrated similar weight loss in people with obesity.

The NHS soups and shakes diet programme which provides a weight loss programme with TDR for people with obesity and T2DM was based on the DiRECT and DROPLET studies. According to the latest data published by NHS, over 2,000 people with T2DM have now improved their health through the soups and shakes diet programme with participants losing an average of 13kg in three months. Following this successful outcome, the NHS has recently expanded its programme which is now available in 11 more regions across England.

Diabetes UK, a leading charity, estimates that by 2030 5.5 million people in the UK will have diabetes, a disease that costs NHS £10 billion a year. With its soups and shakes diet programme the NHS England together with the NHS Scotland, has set the example for European public health authorities on how to help individuals with obesity and T2DM improve their health in a primary care setting as well as on how to reduce health-care expenditure related to these health conditions.

References

Primary health care is key to solving the diabetes challenge (Guest blog) https://efpia.eu/news-events/the-efpia-view/blog-articles/primary-health-care-is-key-to-solving-the-diabetes-challenge/

For further information on the DiRECT trial click here.

More information on the PREVIEW study is available here.

Find out more about the DROPLET trial here.

 

Aristeidis Myriskos, TDMR Europe Secretariat​

Europe is witnessing a dramatic increase in obesity rates and policy makers are looking at how best to tackle this challenge and related health conditions. It is more important than ever for the slimming foods sector to raise awareness of the effectiveness of its products in weight loss and help decision makers gain a better understanding of formula diet foods. This has become more evident in light of upcoming regulatory changes in the EU and the UK aiming to make the food system healthier – such as the EU Farm to Fork Strategy and the UK advertising restrictions on products high in fat, salt or sugar (HFSS).

Businesses in the sector need to join forces to tackle regulatory challenges and effectively increase awareness of their products. TDMR Europe enables slimming foods companies to work together to address issues of common concern, and supports members with its longstanding policy, scientific and PR experience. Benefits of TDMR Europe membership include:

1. A strong voice for the sector and communications support

There is increasing scientific literature regarding the efficacy of total diet replacements (TDRs) and meal replacement products (MRPs) in helping people with obesity and overweight lose weight more rapidly than would otherwise be possible. Several studies also have shown the health benefits of diet programmes with formula foods for weight control for individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2DM), osteoarthritis and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). Moreover, recent research has demonstrated that weight loss with TDR may help to improve fertility in men with obesity.

TDMR Europe combines the industry’s technical knowledge, with decades of experience in public affairs and media relations to increase understanding of formula diet foods among policy makers, healthcare professionals and other stakeholders. TDMR Europe raises awareness of the beneficial impacts of members’ products not only via the effective communication channels that has established with decision makers in the EU and the UK over the years but also via a successful educational campaign that includes the delivery of regular insightful educational events.

2. Political influence

The slimming foods sector is facing a challenging period from a regulatory perspective. The front-of-pack nutrition labelling (FOPNL) and nutrient profiles legislation that the European Commission is introducing as part of the Farm to Fork Strategy as well as the upcoming promotional restrictions of HFSS foods in the UK risks unfairly impacting the industry. Unless clear exemptions are introduced for specialist products that are not HFSS, such as TDRs and MRPs, these regulations may fail to recognise the specific use of TDRs and MRPs to provide healthy weight loss for people with obesity and overweight.

In addition, new rules on information and composition requirements for TDRs are set to apply from 27^th October 2022. Delegated Act 2017/1798 sets out that TDRs protein requirements shall be between 75g and 105g. These new requirements are however very problematic from a food technology perspective and not based on the latest scientific evidence.

TDMR Europe helps its members have a say on legislations that affect their business. TDMR Europe works to influence the fluid and complex regulatory framework of formula diet products in the EU and the UK, securing a fit for purpose legislation for members’ products and ensuring proportionate implementation and enforcement.

3. Regulatory updates and support

TDMR Europe members have access to bespoke policy and regulatory advice from a team of experienced advisors and receive early alerts on developments that may impact their products and business in the future.

4. Networking

TDMR Europe membership enables businesses to build contacts with key players and colleagues in the sector and provides excellent opportunities for networking.

TDMR Europe is the European association for manufacturers and distributors of formula diet products, including total diet replacement (TDRs) and meal replacement (MRPs) which provide weight loss and weight management programmes for people with obesity and overweight. You can find more information here.

To join TDMR Europe please can it touch via +44 (0)20 7463 0620 or secretariat@tdmr-europe.com

TDMR Europe has announced an expansion of its membership, as Nualtra, a leading medical nutrition company in the UK and Ireland, joins the association. Founded in 2012 by Registered Dietitian Paul Gough, Nualtra delivers the Altralife shakes and soup mix for weight loss.

Professor Anthony Leeds, Chair of TDMR Europe said:

“We’re delighted to welcome Nualtra to TDMR Europe at a critical point for the formula foods sector.  Just as the huge value of TDR and MRP formula foods in the public health sector has been recognised, new European food regulations will affect composition and labelling of these foods. TDMR Europe uses the industry’s extensive knowledge and practical experience to secure appropriate and proportionate legislation for the sector”.

Emma Coates, Medical Affairs and Regulatory Manager at Nualtra said:

“Being a TDMR Europe member will play an important role for our business strategy and development, and we feel certain that the organisation’s longstanding public affairs, PR and scientific expertise will help our representation and influence go from strength to strength. As obesity and weight related comorbidities in Europe continue to increase, we look forward to joining forces with TDMR Europe and boost our efforts to raise awareness of the effectiveness of formula diet products in weight loss.”.

TDMR Europe is the European association for manufacturers and distributors of formula diet products, including total diet replacement (TDRs) and meal replacement (MRPs) which provide weight loss and weight management programmes for people with obesity and overweight. You can find more information here.

To join TDMR Europe please get in touch via +44 (0)20 7463 0620 or secretariat@tdmr-europe.com

For further information or comment from the Chair of TDMR Europe, Professor Anthony Leeds and from Nualtra please contact Aristeidis Myriskos at aristeidis.myriskos@whitehousecomms.com

You can find more information about TDMR Europe here.