Revealed: maker of Wegovy ‘skinny jab’ is funding NHS weight-loss services

Critics fear conflict of interest as Novo Nordisk helps medics reduce unnecessary barriers' to treatment for obesity

The pharmaceutical company that makes Wegovy slimming jabs is funding the expansion of weight-loss services across England as it seeks to boost sales of its obesity drugs, the Observer can reveal.

Novo Nordisk is paying the salaries of staff on NHS obesity teams and financing the launch and redesign of services, including giving 206,000 to a health partnership to transform its treatment of obesity. The Danish firm also has financial links to the co-chair of an NHS England weight management advisory group, and paid her almost 50,000 in lecture, consulting and other fees in just two years.