NHS patients could soon be offered cutting-edge obesity treatments and technologies that can help people lose 20% of their weight.
The news comes after the UK government announced a £20m research boost to help tackle the crisis in the UK.
Obesity costs the NHS £6 billion a year, a figure expected to rise to more than £9.7 billion by 2050. The new investment is expected to save money and time in the ‘NHS, as well as ensuring vital funds are spent on key frontline services.
The fund could lead to new obesity medicines and digital technology, such as apps and online portals to encourage lifestyle changes, which have been shown in clinical trials to be safe and lead to reduction significant weight.
Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: “Having a fit and healthy population is essential to reduce pressure on the NHS and support the economy with obesity, which is currently estimated to cost the ‘NHS almost £10 billion per year by 2050.
“We are fast-tracking the most promising treatments and technologies for NHS patients to help them achieve a healthy weight, save the NHS billions of pounds and increase life expectancy.
“We are determined to harness the full potential of innovative medical advances to improve the nation’s health.”
An open competition will be held in early 2023 to identify sites to deliver this research, exploring how new and potentially transformative medicines can be combined with technologies such as digital tools to improve long-term health outcomes for people living with obesity .
The research will focus outside London and the Greater South East, in areas where obesity rates and health inequalities are highest.
The government has also announced a Vaccine Taskforce approach to tackle some of the major public health issues that are damaging the economy and draining NHS resources.
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Four healthcare missions, covering obesity, cancer, mental health and addiction, will be launched to rapidly develop and deliver new treatments, technology and support to patients to help them lead longer lives and healthy
In Scotland, the SNP government has also been working to try to tackle the obesity crisis, with previous research revealing that average BMI has risen steadily and significantly over a 23-year period.
In 2018, the Scottish Government announced the launch of its ‘Healthier Future: Scotland’s Diet and Healthy Weight Delivery Plan’ to try to tackle the problem of obesity.
The plan sets out how the government will work with public and private sector partners to help people make healthier food choices and the ambition to halve childhood obesity by 2030 and reduce diet-related health inequalities .
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