Investigating general medication prescription by general practitioners during a 12‐month randomized controlled weight loss trial

Summary Much healthcare expenditure is on pharmaceutical drugs. Expenditure on medications has increased both in absolute terms, and as a proportion of total health expenditure. No previous studies have investigated the prescribing costs by general practitioners when managing patients during a weight loss intervention. This study evaluated the medication costs by individual class during a 1‐year study in which 268 participants were randomized to one of two weight loss programmes, either standard care (SC) as defined by national guidelines, or a commercial provider (Weight Watchers) (CP). The baseline body mass index of participants (mean ± standard deviation) was 32.0 ± 2.5 kg m−2, their body weight was 87.5 ± 11.8 kg, and age 47.4 ± 11.7 years. Weight loss for the SC and CP groups was −2.6 and −6.1 kg, respectively (between group difference; P