Updated June 2025
Please note the Weight Management Service is not able to accept referrals for anti-obesity medications at this time. We apologise this is taking so long but please be reassured NHS Lothian are working hard to bring these medicines to patients.
NHS Lothian have a short life working group currently developing the pathway and once agreed we can start a phased roll out.
Three medicines are approved for use in NHS Scotland for managing weight in the treatment of obesity:
Liraglutide (Saxenda®)
Semaglutide (Wegovy®)
Tirzepatide (Mounjaro®)
In February 2025, these medicines were added to the East Region Formulary for the prescription in NHS Lothian.
The Scottish Government has issued a consensus statement advising the NHS in Scotland to consider a phased implementation of the medicines:
NHS Lothian is considering a phased roll out of these medicines for weight management in line with Scottish Government guidance. We are actively developing clinical pathways to ensure safe prescribing and monitoring. Updates will be shared once these clinical pathways have been agreed in NHS Lothian.
Until these pathways are in place, the Weight Management service is unable to accept referrals for the initiation of these medicines.
Advice leaflet
If you are taking these medications privately please find some helpful information on diet and how to manage side effects in this leaflet.
If you wish to consider lifestyle advice in the meantime you can find more information about our other programmes and referral forms on our web page:-
Adult Weight Management and Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Team
Woodlands House, Astley Ainslie Hospital, 74 Canaan Lane, Edinburgh, EH9 2TB
E-mail: loth.weightmanagement@nhs.scot
Telephone: 0131 537 9169.
