More than 370,000 items were prescribed for the treatment of obesity in primary care last year, according to figures by NHS Digital.

The number of items prescribed for the condition has been in decline since 2009 when it reached 1.45 million. Last year’s 371,000 items was down on the previous year’s 401,000 items prescribed.

There was an 18% increase in the net ingredient cost of all items from £6.9 million in 2017 to £8.1 million last year. In 2008 that figure was £44.8 million.

Stoke on Trent had the highest rate of prescriptions for obesity with 17 items per 1,000 people while Barnsley, Halton and Knowsley had 16 items per 1,000 people.

NHS Digital said NHS Nene, Corby and Mansfield and Ashfield had “almost zero rates.”

Picture: sanchairat (iStock)