Thousands of people set to be given free weight loss jabs | UK | News
Thousands of Scots will be offered a free weight-loss vaccine in a multi-million pound study led by the University of Glasgow. Up to 5,000 obese people living in Scotland’s poorest areas will be offered the vaccine as part of government-funded research into obesity “where the burden of obesity is greatest”.
The UK government has provided an initial £650,000 for the Scottish CardioMetabolic Effects Study (SCoMIS), which aims to test how medicines can be distributed effectively and fairly in day-to-day NHS care. Given that obesity is linked to long-term diseases such as heart disease, tackling the problem is expected to help millions live healthier lives and reduce pressure on NHS healthcare services, leading to wider prevalence across the country.
UK Minister for Health Innovation Dr. Zubir Ahmed said: “As a working NHS surgeon and Glasgow MP, I know first-hand the impact of the obesity crisis plaguing Scotland and the multitude of health problems it causes.
“1 in 3 adults in the poorest parts of Scotland live with obesity. The UK government is committed to tackling inequality wherever it is encountered in our country.
“That’s why this landmark investment from the UK government targets help where it’s needed most in Scotland, meeting people where they are and supporting the NHS services they rely on to treat them.”
The shots replicate or enhance the effects of natural hormones that control blood sugar levels and are prescribed to people with diabetes. They act on areas of the brain that affect hunger and appetite.
Jason Gill, who led the study as professor of cardiometabolic health at the University of Glasgow, said incretin therapies were a “powerful new tool for a national obesity strategy”, but acknowledged it required multifactorial public health action.
“The burden of obesity is greatest in the poorest segments of society and the current situation may lead to increased health inequalities,” he added.
The study will also investigate whether improving health through weight loss can help people stay in work, reduce sick leave and participate better in society.
It will aim to measure the level of weight loss and improvements in quality of life and any impact on obesity-related diseases, NHS use and overall healthcare costs.
The event, which launches next year, will include clinical leaders at the Universities of Dundee and Edinburgh, as well as industry leaders Novo Nordisk and IQVIA.
