People whose health would benefit most from losing weight will be able to get support closer to home, across Leicester city, Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire, thanks to £8 million funding from the national Obesity Pathway Innovation Programme (OPIP).
The local NHS will create a new, neighbourhood-based obesity care pathway, for adults and children, that will bring support closer to home. The service will be available only in selected areas, based on where the need is greatest. Each chosen neighbourhood will act as a local hub, linking GPs, pharmacies, schools, Family Hubs and community organisations. A single referral system will make it easier for people to access help, whether that is through their GP, pharmacy, school, or by self-referral. The service will use the latest digital technology to help assess patients and track their progress.
Professor Claire Ellwood, Chief Pharmacistof the two Integrated Care Boards covering Northamptonshire and Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, said: “Obesity is a serious risk to health and we know that current NHS services are not always easy to access and often have long waiting times. This new service model will be fairer, as it will prioritise neighbourhoods, in both urban and rural areas, where people have the greatest need for support. It will help thousands of people manage their weight, improve their health and reduce the risk of long-term conditions.”
Leicestershire and Northamptonshire face some of the highest obesity rates in England, with big differences between particular communities. Around seven in every ten people are living with excess weight and around three in ten are obese, and this is significantly higher than the national average. We know from our analysis that people in South Asian and Black communities and those living in less affluent neighbourhoods are disproportionately affected by obesity, with higher risks of diabetes and heart disease.
The new NHS pathway is designed to reduce health inequalities and improve access to services, with more people being supported in their local area, instead of at hospitals. It will offer a full range of support based on the latest national guidance, including healthy eating and activity programmes, family-focused interventions and resources tailored for particular communities. For those who need it, weight loss medication will also be available under strict clinical criteria. Children and families will get extra support through schools and Family Hubs and patients will also benefit from innovative features such as gaming-style activity trackers and online tools to support people in changing their behaviours and leading a more active and healthy lifestyle.
Independent grant funding has been provided by Eli Lilly and Company Limited in addition to the funding contributed by the Department for Science Innovation and Technology. The OPIP is being delivered through Innovate UK.
Health Innovation East Midlands (HIEM) helped to design the plans and to develop the successful LLR funding bid. Eddie Alder, Programme Delivery Director at HIEM said: “We are delighted that the LLR bid was successful. As the work progresses, we are looking forward to continuing to provide implementation support and advising around digital pathway products to help make specialist weight management support more accessible for local people.”
The new service will be introduced in stages, from August 2026, focusing on neighbourhoods across Leicester, Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire with the greatest needs, and is additional to existing weight loss services. It is one of twelve pilot programmes across the country which will run for three years, and the findings will be used to influence national services in the future, in order to make weight loss services more effective.
