The UK Government has announced an investment of £20 million into new research for technology and treatments to support weight loss.
With obesity estimated to cost the NHS £6 billion annually, a figure set to rise to over £9.7 billion each year by 2050, the new investment is expected to save the NHS billions over time.
An open competition will take place in 2023 to identify sites to join the programme, in order to explore how new medicines can be incorporated with technology and other digital tools to better health outcomes for people living with obesity.
It is hoped that the fund will lead to digital technologies and medicines that have been shown to lead to a reduction in weight being made available to patients, such as online portals or apps to encourage lifestyle changes.
As well as the funding, the Government has announced that four healthcare missions will be launched, to cover obesity, cancer, mental health and addiction to deliver new treatments, technology and support to patients.
Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay stated: “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.”
Professor David Strain, Board of Science Chair for the British Medical Association, added: “This government announcement to support and harness the UK’s research potential to improve the treatment for obesity is welcome, but ministers must remember that prevention is better, and indeed cheaper, than the cure.
“Once the neurochemical changes of obesity have been triggered by weight gain, complex long-term interventions are often required; the target of this research fund. Whilst there is no doubt this investment is necessary, it should not occur at the expense of supporting proven preventative measures.”
