New £5m Service to Address Obesity in Northern Ireland
The Department of Health (DoH) has announced the launch of a new £5 million service aimed at tackling obesity across Northern Ireland later this year.
The Regional Obesity Management Service (ROMS) will offer eligible adults access to weight-loss medication, including injections, alongside support for diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes.
Currently, only individuals with type-2 diabetes in Northern Ireland can access weight-loss injections through the NHS.
According to the DoH, approximately 65% of adults in Northern Ireland are living with obesity or excess weight.
The rollout of the service is expected to begin in early autumn 2026, initially targeting adults with the most significant clinical needs.
Health Minister Highlights Public Health Challenge
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt emphasized the seriousness of obesity as a public health issue and stated that the new service aims to help people live longer, healthier lives while alleviating pressure on the health system.
"Health inequalities has been one of my main areas of focus since I became health minister," he said.
Mike Nesbitt said obesity is one of Northern Ireland's most significant public health issues
Nesbitt further noted that obesity disproportionately affects disadvantaged communities, where the obesity rate is 68%, compared to 62% in the least disadvantaged areas.
"The shift from treating ill health to helping people stay well will support longer, healthier, and more active lives," he said.
"Bringing Northern Ireland in line with the rest of the UK and improving health outcomes."
Eligibility and Clinical Guidance
In the first phase of ROMS, adults aged 18 and over with a body mass index (BMI) above 45 and at least one obesity-related health condition, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, or high blood pressure, will be eligible for the service.
Weight-loss medication will be prescribed only when clinically appropriate and in accordance with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance.
Individual Care Plans and Lifestyle Support
The new service will be launched alongside the Obesity Pathway Innovation Programme (OPIP), a separate £7 million initiative designed to expand access to weight management support.
This programme will enable eligible individuals to self-refer for assistance from a Health and Social Care clinician, eliminating the need for a GP referral. It is expected to commence in August.
Speaking on BBC's Good Morning Ulster radio programme, Nesbitt explained that the schemes focus on more than just administering weight loss medication.
"Because all the evidence suggests that when you do take that medication, there's a dramatic loss in weight," he said.
"But if that's all you do, and you don't address your lifestyle, if you stop taking the medication, the weight goes back on equally dramatically.
So we're talking about individual care plans. We're talking about realistic targets for weight loss, advice on diet, advice on activity, and monitoring people as they go along that pathway."
- Weight loss injections to be offered in Northern Ireland
- Obesity cases rising fastest in young adults
- Goal to make healthier food more affordable
