Key Summary
- Obesity is one of the UK’s most pressing health challenges, with almost one third of adults in England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, and one in four in Wales living with the condition.
- Limited access to effective weight loss interventions, like specialist advice, guided physical activity or medicines, remains a key barrier for patients who need support.
- The OPIP projects are set to receive grant funding of up to £50 million from government and up to £35 million from Eli Lilly.
The government, along with pharma giant Eli Lilly and Company, has launched the Obesity Pathway Innovation Programme (OPIP), which would use technology to provide advice and support to patients.
This will provide easier ways to access obesity care through 12 new projects, from apps and round-the clock advice on WhatsApp to AI-powered triage.
They will reshape how obesity is treated and ease long-term pressure on frontline health services.
Obesity is one of the UK’s most pressing health challenges, with almost one third of adults in England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, and one in four in Wales living with the condition.
Estimates suggest it costs UK society up to £107 billion per year, including a bill of more than £9 billion per year for the NHS.
Limited access to effective weight loss interventions, like specialist advice, guided physical activity or medicines, remains a key barrier for patients who need support.
The OPIP projects are set to receive grant funding of up to £50 million from the government and up to £35 million from Eli Lilly.
Easy access
Among the projects, patients in Norfolk, Suffolk, and north east Essex will get the care they need more quickly through AI-assisted triage.
People concerned about their weight can fill in a short online health check from home – matching them to the right NHS support, whether that’s advice from a dietitian, or specialist clinical care.
In Kent, up to 3,300 families – from pregnancy through to a child’s early years – will get round-the-clock AI-powered advice on healthy eating, activity, sleep and stress, straight to their phone via WhatsApp.
That means a parent worried about feeding their toddler in the middle of the night, or unsure where to turn for help, can get the right answer instantly by typing their questions into WhatsApp for an immediate response. People can get the advice they need without a GP or clinic appointment.
In Leicester and Northamptonshire, patients will receive weight management support through an initial six new neighbourhood hubs, set up in local facilities like community pharmacies or gyms.
People in Northern Ireland will be able to refer themselves and work with an NHS clinician to set personal goals - no need for a GP appointment.
In Wales people will have one clear route into NHS weight management support - in English or Welsh - wherever they live.
OPIP will aim to transform outcomes for a wide range patients, including people in deprived rural and coastal communities who often have to travel long distances for in-person care, minority ethnic communities, and for people with disabilities and early years families.
It will focus on groups who face the most difficulty accessing care and will maximise the impact of support through these projects, helping to make the biggest possible difference to people’s lives.
Making a difference
Health secretary James Murray said, “Obesity is an epidemic and we need bold action to end it now. These innovative projects will bring together the NHS, local partners and industry to test new ways of delivering obesity care that uses the latest technology and is closer to people's homes."
Science secretary Liz Kendall said, "These pioneering projects will meet people where they are – whether that is through a pharmacy round the corner, an app on their phone, or support in their own language. For a parent trying to give their child the best start, or someone who has struggled to access help for years, that can make all the difference."
Chris Stokes, President and General Manager, Lilly UK and Northern Europe, said, "We are proud to work with the government to support NHS partners in projects which have the potential to modernise obesity services and make a genuine difference in the lives of people living with obesity.”
