More people in the Netherlands went to their huisarts (GP) about being overweight last year, and the number shot up quickly, with the buzz around weight-loss jabs the most likely reason.
New annual figures show that Dutch GPs logged a lot more overweight and obesity registrations in 2025 than the year before. It’s a jump big enough to land these conditions among the biggest risers of the year.
What the numbers actually show
In 2025, GPs recorded overweight as a diagnosis for 6.6 out of every 1,000 patients, a rise of 39% on the previous year. Obesity (being severely overweight) climbed too, reaching 11.6 per 1,000 patients, up 37%.
Together, that puts overweight and obesity in the top three biggest increases of 2025, alongside shingles and the flu. The data comes from the Nivel research institute, which based its report on 394 GP practices covering nearly 1.8 million registered patients.
So what’s driving the spike? Researchers point to all the attention around GLP-1 medication. Karin Hek of Nivel tells NU.nl that the wave of media coverage about weight-reducing drugs has probably led to more visits and questions at the GP.
Why most people walk away empty-handed
Wanting the medication and qualifying for it are two very different things. A guideline change last year gave GPs a little room to prescribe weight-loss drugs, but the rules are strict and aimed at a very specific group.
GP Wouter Hufen describes it to NU.nl as needing three “ticks” on the list. A patient has to have a worryingly high BMI, health problems caused by it (like high blood pressure), and a completed leefstijltraject (lifestyle programme) that didn’t work well enough.
Tick all three, and he’s willing. Most people don’t, which means most people hear a firm “no”, occasionally, he admits, to his own frustration.
It’s not about a beach body
Hufen is clear that this isn’t about turning away everyone.
He’d actually like a bit more room for tailored decisions, not for someone with a few extra kilos chasing a summer figure, but for people whose weight keeps them stuck on the sofa, or who can’t shift the weight through lifestyle changes because of a physical condition.
When he does say no, he tries to dig into the “why” behind someone’s struggle. Is it a physical condition? Other medication? Stress or trauma that leads to eating in certain moments? As he puts it, everyone’s sore spot sits in a different place.
The medication isn’t the finish line
Stelder now prescribes weight-loss drugs regularly, but he’s quick to say they aren’t the whole answer. Medication is handy, in his words, but real change comes down to lifestyle, and a lot of coaching to get there.
He’d like to see GPs able to offer the drugs more widely, and suspects many hold back because of the sheer workload that comes with all the guidance and follow-up.
Hufen is more cautious, but still expects a lot from these medicines down the line, including possible uses beyond weight loss, like tackling addictions.
With the standard GP route so narrow, plenty of people are turning to online options instead, where you can lose weight with professional care.
Have you tried navigating the Dutch healthcare system for a weight-loss prescription, or been told to try a lifestyle programme first? Tell us how it went in the comments!
