The UK is set to see a significant shift in the way it tackles obesity, with a £85 million investment aimed at revolutionising support for thousands of patients. A dozen cutting-edge projects, part-funded by pharmaceutical firm Eli Lilly and Company, will introduce new technological approaches to make care more accessible and tailored. These initiatives are designed to ease pressure on frontline health services by providing individuals with convenient and direct ways to access weight management advice.
The funding, comprising up to £50 million from the government and up to £35 million from Lilly, will facilitate the development of innovative care models. Among these is the use of artificial intelligence (AI) powered triage systems that guide patients to suitable NHS services. Patients in Norfolk, Suffolk, and north east Essex, for instance, will be able to complete an online health check at home, matched with advice or specialist clinical care as needed.
In Kent, a total of 3,300 families from pregnancy through to early childhood will receive round-the-clock AI-powered advice on healthy eating, activity, sleep, and stress directly via WhatsApp. This means parents can get instant answers without the need for a GP appointment, potentially reducing waiting times and improving outcomes.
The programme also includes six neighbourhood hubs in Leicester and Northamptonshire, located in community pharmacies or gyms. These will offer healthy living advice and, where clinically appropriate, weight loss medication to particularly deprived, Black, South Asian, and rural communities. In Northern Ireland, patients will have access to a self-referral pathway for working with NHS clinicians on personal goals, bypassing GP waiting times.
Health experts have long highlighted the need for effective support in tackling obesity, which affects almost one in three adults in the UK. Science Secretary Liz Kendall stressed that these projects aim to meet people where they are, whether through local pharmacies or mobile apps. Health and Social Care Secretary James Murray described obesity as an epidemic requiring bold action.
The NHS has consistently highlighted the importance of weight management for overall health and wellbeing. This investment is a significant step towards providing more accessible and effective support, with the potential to inform future health services nationwide.