Innovative obesity care programme receives funding

Funding has been awarded for a new innovative programme to improve access to obesity support.

Until March 2029, NHS Dorset will lead the project, which is part of a national programme testing new approaches to tackle obesity.

The Dorset project will take a community led approach, focusing on people who often face barriers to healthy weight services, such as children and young people with disabilities.

Amanda Webb, chief officer for population health improvement for NHS Dorset, said that by designing new local services and using digital tools, they "hope to reach people who too often miss out".

The funding comes from the Obesity Pathway Innovation Programme, which directly supports the government's Ten-Year Plan for the NHS.

Its aims include moving from analogue to digital systems and focusing on care within communities.

In Dorset, people will be "supported from the start with a personal conversation to understand their needs".

"They might join a local group, get support from a health coach by phone or online, or use an easy app or website to track progress and stay motivated," the government writes.

"A young person who has care experience might get help through a small, supportive group to build confidence, while an adult with a learning disability could have more one‑to‑one support and join local activities that feel safe and welcoming."

NHS Dorset is working in partnership with Bournemouth University's PIER Project (Bu PIER) and Health Innovation Wessex.

"By working together, we can help make obesity support more inclusive and more accessible, to better reflect people's everyday lives in Dorset," a spokesperson for Bu PIER said.