Cutting-edge obesity treatments and technologies which can help people shed 20% of their weight could soon be offered to NHS patients.

The news comes after the UK Government announced a £20 million research boost to help tackle the crisis in the UK.

Obesity costs the NHS a massive £6 billion annually, a number which is expected to increase to more than £9.7 billion per year by 2050. The new investment is expected to save the NHS money and time, plus ensure that vital funds are spent on key frontline services.

The fund could lead to new medicines and digital obesity tech, such as apps and online portals to encourage lifestyle changes, which have been shown in clinical trials to be safe and lead to a significant reduction in weight.

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: “Having a fit and healthy population is essential to reducing pressure on the NHS and supporting the economy with obesity, currently estimated to cost the NHS nearly £10 billion per year by 2050.

“We are fast-tracking the most promising treatments and technologies to 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 breakthroughs to level up the health of the nation.”

An open competition will be run 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.

Research will be focused outside of London and the Greater Southeast, in the areas where obesity rates and health disparities are highest.

The government has also announced a Vaccine Taskforce approach to tackling some of the leading public health issues which damage the economy and drain NHS resources.

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Four healthcare missions will be launched, covering obesity, cancer, mental health, and addiction to quickly develop and deliver new treatments, technology, and support to patients to help them lead longer, healthier lives.

In Scotland, the SNP government has also been working to try and 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 release of its ‘Healthier Future: Scotland’s diet and healthy weight delivery plan’ to attempt to combat the issue of obesity.

The plan sets out how the government would work with partners in the public and private sector to help people make healthier food choices, and an ambition to halve childhood obesity by 2030, and reduce diet-related health inequalities.

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