A Suffolk GP says "education is key" to obesity warning there is no "silver bullet" to weight loss after the Government unveiled plans to give jabs to unemployed people living with the condition.

Earlier this week, health secretary Wes Streeting announced that jabs could be given to help people get back into work, as well as easing the pressure on the NHS.

The medication is designed to make people feel more full and less hungry, but experts have warned that the jabs are not a replacement for having a good diet and exercising.

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Dr John Havard, a GP at Saxmundham Health, said the western world was "waking up" to the fact that obesity was ruining lives, as well as having "alarming effects" on rates of cancer and diabetes.

Additionally, obesity had day-to-day effects on breathing, sleeping and mobility, he said, while people finding they could walk better, had more energy and improved sleep was more motivational than improving their blood test results.

He added "lived experience" could also be more persuasive than doctors in encouraging people to lose weight, especially if people could see examples of others who had been successful.

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Dr Havard said: "We need to explore all options for weight loss but there is no silver bullet.

"The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE - which provides guidance for health care organisations) only recommends two years of the injections and other support beside the drug is required. 

"Obesity is complex and education is key because we want people to understand the reasons and to appreciate the advantages of low carbohydrate diets and time-restricted eating.

"We have a few patients who have lost seven stone and kept it off for years - there is even one local 21-year-old who has lost eight stone.

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"There is an important role for Government since 25% of children entering primary school are obese or overweight.

"Clearly, it is not their fault and maybe we do need to make harmful foods more expensive with a 'sugar tax'.

"People with the least money often buy the cheapest foods which are the most harmful.

"We need to address this as a country - and tax works."

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