NHS to offer cutting-edge support for tens of thousands living with obesity

Tens of thousands of NHS patients with obesity could soon access support through digital platforms and pharmacies under a new £85m programme.

The scheme will offer weight management support via digital tools, community-based access points and pharmacies, with eligible patients in participating areas potentially starting from summer 2026.

It aims to ease pressure on the NHS and GPs while helping people with obesity – a condition affecting body weight and metabolism – to improve health and participate fully in work, supporting the government’s Plan for Change mission.

The UK government will contribute up to £50m of new UK-wide funding, with pharmaceutical company Lilly providing up to £35m in grants.

NHS organisations will be able to apply for funding, with at least £10m earmarked for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Science and technology secretary Peter Kyle said: “New ways of accessing support to tackle obesity, such as through pharmacies or with help from digital tools, could be transformational for people’s quality of life, and for society – allowing individuals to more easily manage their weight and freeing them from ill-health that holds them back in daily life – while reducing the strain on our NHS.

“This programme also underlines life sciences’ critical value to our Plan for Change and our modern Industrial Strategy.

“By working hand-in-hand with one of the world’s largest life sciences companies, we are driving investment into the UK and tackling one of the greatest health challenges of our era.”

Healthcare stakeholders, including care boards working with technology providers, will be invited to bid for pilots of innovative care models for people with obesity, outside of existing specialist weight management services to increase capacity and avoid those services being overburdened.

These pilots will provide holistic weight management support, including wraparound services and, where clinically appropriate, obesity treatments.

The programme will be delivered with Innovate UK and builds on recent investment in 23 projects from the Weight Management Pathway Design Accelerator.

These three-month projects, led by integrated care boards and health boards across the UK, are testing more personalised, joined-up weight management support in local communities.

Clinicians at local level will determine patient eligibility, with all services following national guidelines, NHS governance and clinical standards, ensuring a patient-centred approach aligned to local need.

Health secretary Wes Streeting said: “Obesity is now one of the leading causes of ill health, costing the NHS billions. Yet, we now have the science, technology and knowledge to help tackle the obesity epidemic, if we seize this opportunity.”

“As we shift our focus from treatment to prevention with our 10 Year Health Plan we are also determined to bring revolutionary modern care to everyone that needs it, not just those who can afford to pay.”

“This collaboration will help patients living with obesity in a matter of months – through testing better access to weight loss services and treatments.

“In the long-term it will inform how we can better tackle one of the biggest modern day health challenges and, through our Plan for Change, create an NHS that is fit for the future.”