Thousands go on NHS ‘soup and shake’ diet to help them lose weight after success of trials 

Tens of thousands of obese Britons will be prescribed diets of soups and shakes to help them lose weight, after a trial found people threw more than two stones in three months.

last night the National Health Service announced it was expanding the diet program to a further 11 regions in England after it was found to help patients reverse type 2 diabetes.

Overweight patients will be referred by their GP and will receive free low-calorie shakes and soups on the NHS for three months.

The radical scheme is part of the health service’s plan to tackle diabetes, which costs the NHS £10 billion a year.

The radical scheme is part of the health service’s plan to tackle diabetes, which costs the NHS £10 billion a year (File Image)

More than four million people have diabetes in the UK and 90 per cent of these have type 2, which is linked to obesity.

For decades, the condition was considered incurable, but now research shows that weight loss can reverse diabetes for good.

As part of an NHS trial, 2,000 type 2 diabetes patients went on a diet and, on average, lost more than two stones after three months.

Research shows that about half of people who lose weight on this diet can achieve diabetes remission within a year.

Those who go on a diet receive support from doctors and trainers, including virtual one-on-one online help and groups.

Once the diet is finished, they receive guidance to reintroduce healthy and nutritious foods.

More than four million people have diabetes in the UK and 90 per cent of these have type 2, which is linked to obesity (Stock Image)

The diet is open to people ages 18 to 65 diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in the past six years with a body mass index greater than 27.

Nadeem Akhtar, 49, from Sheffield, has dropped more than third since the program started and has put his type 2 diabetes into remission.

He said, ‘It’s the best thing I’ve ever done for myself and my family.’