Key factors for consideration With the above questions in mind, the key considerations insurers must look at are: The amount of weight lost and over what time-period, this is important to see if the weight loss is maintained, or if they have lost a drastic amount in a short space of time that may be deemed unhealthy. Additionally, history of weight loss surgery is considered, this is because if someone has undergone weight loss surgery in the past yet is now turning to other forms of weight loss treatment, this demonstrates they have been unable to maintain the weight reduction they previously hoped to achieve. This is important to insurers as it helps paint the overall picture of an individual and their lifestyle. Furthermore, another important factor that must be considered is any complications due to weight loss treatment. Any complications from the treatment will impact the application decision, especially if it is directly linked to the use of weight loss treatment and has impacted their organs such as the pancreas or kidney. It's important that insurers know of any complications as this be an important factor when making their decision. With the BBC reporting that 9 in 10 are believed to pay privately for weight loss treatment, it’s important to look at where the treatment is sourced from. We know weight loss treatment can be obtained directly from the GP or prescribed by a pharmacy, however, there are also less legitimate sources where the treatment can come from. Some individuals are using weight loss treatment for purely cosmetic purposes and therefore may turn 09 WINTER PROTECT NEWSLETTER to sourcing it from avenues such as social media, which can come with serious health risks. This information is vital to capture as it will help determine if cover can be considered. Lastly, insurers will want to know if treatment is on-going and when it started. If treatment has only just started, insurers may act with more caution as they will want to get further insight into the impact the treatment is having on the individual and the potential risk for complications to occur. All the above key factors are crucial when capturing information regarding weight loss treatment and support the questions we've added to our platform. This not only helps insurers ensure they are offering the correct decisions but also allows applicants to obtain the right cover for their particular needs. Summary The growing prevalence of medical weight loss treatments has become a key focus for the protection industry in 2025. With drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro now used by an estimated 2.5 million people in the UK, the Protection Platform has seen a marked rise in disclosures, with 739 applicants reporting treatment use in the past year. In response, we introduced 9 new questions for disclosures of weight loss treatment on 12th November 2025 to give our panel of insurers the information they require to apply decisions in line with their risk appetite. Log into the Protection Platform Register for the Protection Platform 1. NHS - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/obesity/ 2. The Independent – https://www.independent.co.uk/ news/health/mounjaro-wegovy-ozempic-weight-lossjabs-b2843927.html 3. The Telegraph – https://www.telegraph.co.uk/ news/2025/10/10/two-million-britons-using-weightloss-jabs-mounjaro-wegovy/ 4. BBC - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ c981044pgvyo
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