People living with obesity in Northern Ireland will soon be able to refer themselves directly to NHS weight management services, bypassing the need for a GP appointment. The change is part of a new UK-wide programme funded by £85 million.

The Obesity Pathway Innovation Programme (OPIP) will run until March 2029, receiving up to £50 million from the government and £35 million from pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly and Company. In Northern Ireland, patients will be able to access a neighbourhood-based obesity service with multiple entry routes, including self-referral.

Once referred, individuals will work with clinicians to agree personalised health goals. Smartphone apps and digital tools will offer guidance on nutrition, exercise and lifestyle changes. Patients who meet clinical criteria may also receive weight management medications.

The approach aims to move care from hospitals into communities, focusing on early intervention. Across the UK, nearly one in three adults in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland are living with obesity, costing society up to £107 billion annually, including £9 billion for the NHS.

Science Secretary Liz Kendall said the projects would meet people where they are, whether through pharmacies, apps or services in their own language. Health Secretary James Murray described obesity as an epidemic and said the evidence gathered would help shift healthcare from treatment to prevention.

Other government measures include a 9pm watershed for junk food advertising on television and online, new powers for councils to restrict fast food outlets near schools, and proposals to ban high-caffeine energy drinks for under-16s. The Soft Drinks Industry Levy will be extended to milk-based and milk-substitute drinks from January 2028.

Professor Naveed Sattar, who chairs the Obesity Healthcare Goals programme, said there was an urgent need for the NHS to improve support for people living with obesity. He expects the most successful project approaches to influence future services across the UK.