A major study has revealed that the soup and shake diet has helped thousands of people living with type 2 diabetes put their condition into remission.
However, only 12% of individuals who start following the NHS soup-and-shake diet end up sticking to the meal plan for a full year, research shows.
A third of people following the strict meal plan for a year saw good weight loss results and put their type 2 diabetes into remission.
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People following the NHS soup and shake diet should not consume more than 800 calories per day.
Between September 2020 and December 2022, a team of academics analysed the health data of 7,540 adults who started following the programme during this time.
The study has highlighted that 945 people went on to complete the diet for a year, and on average they lost 15.9kg.
Out of the 945 people who remained on the programme for a year, 32% had gone into remission, blood tests have shown.
Dr Clare Hambling, national clinical director of diabetes and obesity at NHS England, said: “We know obesity is one of the biggest threats to health in the UK and will be one of the biggest and most costly challenges for health systems globally, so seeing such encouraging outcomes from our programme shows that obesity can be tackled head-on.”
Those on the NHS soup and shake programme also have access to a nurse or dietitian. Figures released last year have shown that 25% of people who stayed in remission for two years were still in remission after five years.
Since its launch in 2020, roughly 25,000 people have been offered the NHS soup and shake programme, with the number expected to double in the next five years.
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Adults who have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in the last six years and have a BMI over 27 are eligible for the programme.
Individuals from an ethnic minority group with type 2 diabetes can access the programme if their BMI is over 25.
Dr Elizabeth Robertson, director of research at Diabetes UK, said: “Diabetes UK is proud to have funded over a decade of research that has forged new frontiers for people with type 2 diabetes and put remission on the map.
“These latest findings add to the real-world evidence that the NHS England Type 2 Diabetes Path to Remission Programme can help thousands of people living with type 2 diabetes on their weight loss and remission journey, which we know is tough and having support is critical.”
She added: “We hope to see even more people benefiting in years to come and an increase in referrals to the programme especially for people recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and in younger people where the impact of type 2 diabetes and remission from it is greatest.”
Charlotte Summers, Operations Director at Gro Health, a weight management service working with the NHS commented: “There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to weight loss and type 2 diabetes remission.
“A low-calorie diet is one method that has been demonstrated to acheive type 2 diabetes remission. Another popular option is a low carbohydrate diet.”
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