Northern Ireland is to launch its first specialist NHS obesity management service next year, bringing local provision into line with the rest of the United Kingdom.

Health minister Mike Nesbitt announced the £5 million Regional Obesity Management Service (ROMS) will begin rolling out in early autumn 2026. The programme will initially target adults with the greatest clinical need.

The Department of Health says 65 per cent of adults in Northern Ireland are now living with overweight or obesity, and the region has been without a dedicated NHS obesity pathway or bariatric surgery service.

In the first phase, eligibility will be limited to those aged 18 and over with a body mass index above 45 and at least one serious obesity-related health condition. Qualifying conditions include atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, hypertension requiring medication, dyslipidaemia, obstructive sleep apnoea confirmed by sleep study, or type 2 diabetes.

The service will provide access to weight-loss medication where clinically appropriate and in line with Nice guidance, alongside support with nutrition, physical activity, behavioural change and long-term weight management. Patients will receive individual care plans with realistic targets and ongoing monitoring.

A separate £7 million initiative, the Obesity Pathway Innovation Programme, will launch in August and introduce self-referral routes, removing the need for a GP referral. This UK-wide investment involves the government and pharmaceutical company Lilly.

Nesbitt said obesity disproportionately affects disadvantaged communities, with a rate of 68 per cent compared with 62 per cent in the least disadvantaged areas. He described the shift as moving from treating ill health to helping people stay well, supporting longer and healthier lives while easing pressure on the health service.

A public consultation on the proposals attracted 18,921 responses, with 99 per cent backing investment in a regional obesity management service. Clinicians and organisations stressed the urgent need for a service, warning that some patients have been travelling abroad for surgery and returning requiring emergency NHS treatment.

Concerns raised during the consultation included strict BMI thresholds potentially encouraging weight gain to qualify, and the need for accessible services for rural communities, people with disabilities and children. The Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children said a childhood obesity service is needed.

Officials have been working toward specialist obesity services since 2019. The Department has indicated that the service will expand over time as capacity and funding allow.