Thousands of poorest Scots to receive free weight-loss jabs in trial

Thousands of people in some of Scotland's most deprived areas will be offered free weight loss jabs as part of a government-funded study.

Up to 5,000 people in Scotland will take the jab as part of a multi-million pound study led by the University of Glasgow.

The results will provide insight into the lives of people living with obesity and health inequalities across the UK.

If successful, it could lead to wider distribution of injections across the country.

The shots mimic or enhance the effects of natural hormones called incretins, which control blood sugar levels.

They act on areas of the brain that affect hunger and appetite, and may slow the rate at which the stomach empties. This can help people living with obesity regulate their eating habits.

The UK Government has committed an initial £650,000 to the Scottish Cardiometabolic Impact Study (SCoMIS).

Tackling obesity, a leading cause of long-term illnesses such as heart disease and cancer, will help millions of people live longer, healthier lives and reduce the burden on health services, potentially saving the NHS billions of dollars each year.

UK Health Innovation Minister Dr Zubir Ahmed said: “As a practicing NHS surgeon and Member of Parliament for Glasgow, I know first-hand the impact of the obesity crisis plaguing Scotland and the many health problems it is causing.

“More than 1 in 3 adults in the most deprived areas of Scotland live with obesity. The UK Government is committed to tackling inequality wherever it occurs in our country.

“That’s why this landmark UK Government investment is aimed at helping where it is needed most in Scotland, meeting people where they are and supporting the NHS services they trust to treat them.”

Research objectives:

• To test how weight loss medications can be delivered effectively and equitably into routine NHS care.
• To measure levels of weight loss and improvement in quality of life, particularly in patients from deprived areas.
• To examine the impact on obesity-related diseases, NHS use and overall healthcare costs.
• Explore whether improving health through weight loss can help people stay in work, reduce sick leave and participate more fully in society.

Jason Gill, Professor of Cardiometabolic Health at the University of Glasgow, who is leading the study, said: “While tackling obesity requires a multi-factorial public health response, incretin therapy adds a powerful new tool to the national obesity strategy.

“The burden of obesity is greatest in the most disadvantaged parts of society, and the status quo risks widening health inequalities.

“SCoMIS aims to be a landmark real-world study evaluating a new model of obesity treatment, delivering incretin treatment through primary and community care to Scottish adults living with obesity, with a focus on those living in the most economically deprived communities.”

Jenny Minto, Scottish Health Secretary, said the Scottish Government is proud to be a leader in tackling obesity through innovation and collaboration.

“This study puts patients and communities at the center of cutting-edge research into weight loss medications, ensuring we generate the evidence needed to deliver the greatest benefit to those who need it most,” she said.

UK Science Minister Lord Vallance said: “Scotland has always been at the forefront of medical innovation and public health, and this initiative is further evidence of the world-class expertise that can be found here.

“By understanding how these weight loss drugs work and how we can help them reach our most deprived areas, we can reduce health inequalities in Scotland and the rest of the UK to ensure our anti-obesity strategy leads to real, long-term change.”

The study, which will begin next year, also involves industry leaders Novo Nordisk and IQVIA, as well as clinical leaders from the Universities of Dundee and Edinburgh.

They will work on how best to use digital technologies powered by artificial intelligence to support patient access, interaction and data collection.

The trial will involve between 3,000 and 5,000 obese Scottish patients who would benefit most from the drugs.