Overweight people in Bradford look set to be refused the new anti-fat drug Xenical due to guidelines from district health chiefs expected to be adopted across Yorkshire.

The drug, which went on sale a fortnight ago, has been hailed by some as a wonder treatment which can lead to weight loss of 10 per cent after a year.

But Bradford Health Authority bosses have advised local GPs not to prescribe the drug until further trials have been carried out into its effects.

They say the treatment is only licensed for overweight patients on a diet willing and able to lose weight. Health chiefs argue that if people are able to shed pounds they do not need help from drugs.

The decision - believed to be the first in the country by a health authority on the drug - is set to be followed by other health chiefs in Yorkshire when it is ratified in a regional meeting later this month.

It has been criticised by one expert in the field, despite the drug's manufacturers saying it has been fully tested and proven effective.

But Dr Andrew Henderson, assistant director of Bradford Health Authority, said the treatment, which reduced absorption of fat by the body, clearly had side effects which needed further evaluation.

And there was no provision in the authority's budget for the drug and costs of prescribing it would have to be borne by GPs from their own funds.

"Our recommendation is to hold on," he said. "We had this dropped on our desks and we've not had a proper chance to make a proper evaluation of it yet."

Dr John Wales, consultant physician at Leeds General Infirmary who runs clinics for very obese people from across the north, said the drug was effective alongside proper dieting.

In cases where obesity caused problems including diabetes, hyper tension and heart disease, a loss of 10 per cent weight could improve health and it was a mistake to prevent people using it.

"For a reduction in weight of 10 per cent you can get a significant reduction in blood pressure or blood sugar and when you talk about the cost of the drug you have to balance it with the numbers of people who don't have heart attacks or diabetes."

Jenny Milne, senior product manager for Xenical, said the drug had been properly evaluated.

One study showed patients lost 70 per cent more weight and were twice as likely to keep that weight off over two years of the treatment compared with people on a reduced fat diet alone.

"I agree if patients were able to lose weight and diet they would not need the drug but the world is not like that. Ninety per cent of patients who are able to lose weight by dieting regain that weight again."

Dr John Givens, secretary of Bradford Local Medical Committee, said there had not been a huge rush of patients asking for the drug.

"I think GPs will take very careful note of the recommendation by the health authority, which is logical because there is no money available for it and if you start prescribing a new drug, you have to stop prescribing something else."

But Margaret Kazecki, manager at a private GP surgery in Frizinghall, said there had been a great deal of interest in the treatment and more than 50 patients had been prescribed it.

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