£85m programme to test AI and digital innovations in obesity care

Thousands of patients across the UK are set to benefit from new approaches to obesity care after the government announced up to £85 million in funding for 12 innovative projects designed to improve access to NHS weight management services.

The Obesity Pathway Innovation Programme (OPIP) will provide up to £50 million in government funding alongside up to £35 million from pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly. The programme aims to develop and evaluate new models of obesity care that improve access to clinically appropriate support while reducing long-term pressure on frontline health services.

The projects, led by NHS Integrated Care Boards and devolved nation NHS Boards in partnership with a range of organisations, will test innovative approaches including AI-assisted triage, digital health platforms, virtual coaching, community-based care and round-the-clock support delivered through digital channels. The programme is intended to make obesity services more accessible, particularly for underserved communities.

Among the initiatives, patients in Norfolk, Suffolk and north east Essex will be able to complete an online assessment using AI to help direct them to the most appropriate NHS weight management service. In Kent and Medway, families will have access to an AI-powered WhatsApp service providing advice on healthy eating, physical activity, sleep and wellbeing. Other projects will explore digital monitoring, community pharmacy support and new referral pathways to help patients access evidence-based obesity care more quickly.

The projects will run until March 2029, with findings expected to help shape future obesity services across the NHS. According to the government, the programme supports the NHS’s shift towards prevention, greater use of digital technology and more care delivered within communities.

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