Prime Highlights :
- UK Government and Eli Lilly commit £85m to 12 AI-powered obesity care pilots.
- Kent families to receive round-the-clock AI support on child nutrition via WhatsApp.
Key Facts :
- The Obesity Pathway Innovation Programme is jointly funded by government and Eli Lilly.
- Nearly 30% of adults in England live with obesity, NHS data shows.
Background :
The UK Government and pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly are investing £85m in 12 artificial intelligence and digital pilots aimed at improving NHS access to obesity care and cutting waiting times.
According to the NHS, nearly 30% of adults in England live with obesity, while more than 66% are either overweight or obese. The condition is linked to serious health problems such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes, and costs the UK around £107bn every year.
The funding, provided through the Obesity Pathway Innovation Programme, comprises £50m from the government and £35m from Eli Lilly. It will support projects ranging from mobile apps to round-the-clock WhatsApp advice and AI-powered triage.
Patients in Norfolk, Suffolk and north east Essex will fill in a short online form to be matched with the right dietitian or specialist. In Kent, up to 3,300 families will receive round-the-clock AI support on nutrition, activity and sleep through WhatsApp.
Science Secretary Liz Kendall said nearly one in three adults in the country lived with obesity, adding that the projects would meet people where they were and help remove barriers stopping them from getting help.
In Leicester and Northamptonshire, six new neighbourhood hubs will offer weight management support, focused on deprived, Black, South Asian and rural communities. Northern Ireland will allow self-referral into weight management services, while Wales will get a single route into NHS support in English and Welsh.
Eli Lilly UK and Northern Europe President Chris Stokes said obesity remained a major health challenge, adding that the company was proud to help modernise NHS obesity services.
