Health Minister announces first phase of NI’s first Obesity Management Service
Date published:
The Health Minister has announced details of phase one of the £5 million Regional Obesity Management Service (ROMS) for Northern Ireland.
Obesity is one of Northern Ireland’s biggest public health issues, with 65% of adults living with obesity or excess weight, and has many contributing factors. ROMS will help tackle obesity, enabling adult patients to access weight loss medication, if clinically appropriate and in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance, as well as lifestyle support to ensure maximum effectiveness.
ROMS is expected to be rolled out in early Autumn 2026 and will focus on those people with the highest clinical need to optimise health benefits.
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said:
“This is a very important day for Northern Ireland as this new service will help improve the lives of many people. Obesity is a significant public health issue and those living with being overweight or obese are at a higher risk of a range of major health conditions including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and some cancers.
“This service aligns with my vision for the future of Health and Social Care (HSC), shifting left and bringing care closer to people’s front doors, as set out in my recently published Neighbourhood Model of health and wellbeing.
“Health inequalities has been one of my main areas of focus since I became Health Minster. Obesity disproportionately affects those from disadvantaged communities (68%) compared to the least disadvantaged (62%). The shift from treating ill health to helping people stay well will support longer, healthier, and more active lives, bringing Northern Ireland in line with the rest of the UK and improving health outcomes.”
ROMS will be implemented alongside the new Obesity Pathway Innovation Programme (OPIP). This programme has received a £7 million share of an £85 million envelope from the UK Government and pharmaceutical company, Lilly, and will be delivered in partnership with the community and voluntary sector.
The service, which also received £2 million funding from the Department of Health, will provide multiple routes into support, including access to a range of social prescribing provision and self-referral. This means people can refer themselves and work with a HSC clinician to set personal goals, avoiding the need to be referred by a GP.
Minister Nesbit added:
"OPIP is a very welcome initiative that has been secured in partnership with the Public Health Agency (PHA) and Northern Ireland Health Collective. This partnership allows us to work with a range of HSC organisations and voluntary and community sector to ensure effective service delivery, supporting people in their communities."
Delivery of OPIP will commence in August with implementation of the ROMS beginning in Autumn 2026, with an initial focus on individuals with the highest clinical need.
Collectively, both initiatives will see significant additional investment being provided in the important area of tackling obesity and will offer enhanced levels of support to those impacted.
Notes to editors:
1. You can see the full DSIT press release including details of the OPIP programme and all projects here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pioneering-projects-to-transform-obesity-care-backed-by-85-million-from-government-and-industry
2. Phase one of ROMS is for adults aged 18 and over with a BMI above 45 and at least one of the following health conditions:
• atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (including ischaemic heart disease, stroke, peripheral vascular disease, and heart failure)
• hypertension (high blood pressure requiring medication)
• dyslipidaemia (raised cholesterol or triglycerides)
• obstructive sleep apnoea (confirmed by sleep study)
• type 2 diabetes
3. OPIP - If your BMI is in the range of 30 to 39.9, you may be eligible for a new weight management programme service called the Obesity Pathway Innovation Project Programme (OPIP).
3. Further details on how ROMS and OPIP will be delivered will be delivered will be available in due course.
2. £20 million has been invested to tackle the issue of obesity Northern Ireland. This includes funding from the Department of Health, as well as external funding, such as this Eli Lilly funding (alongside DSIT), and INTERREG funded PEACEPLUS projects such as the HEALTHY FUTURES project secured through CAWT Co-operation and Working Together and The PEACETIME project.
4. In November 2023, the Department launched a consultation seeking views from the public on the introduction of an obesity management service. The outcome of the consultation, which yielded just under 19,000 responses, was overwhelming in favour of introducing this service to Northern Ireland. A report summarising the public consultation on the proposed ROMS introduction as published last year: https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/consultations/proposed-regional-obesity-management-service-roms-northern-ireland
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