Thousands of Scots to receive free weight-loss jabs

Thousands of Scots in deprived areas will be offered free weight-loss injections in a government-funded trial launching next year.

The UK government has provided an initial £650,000 for up to 5,000 participants in the Scotland CardioMetabolic Impact Study (SCoMIS).

The multi-million pound study will be led by Glasgow University in partnership with the Universities of Dundee and Edinburgh, along with industry partners Novo Nordisk and IQVIA.

The jabs copy or boost natural hormones called incretins, which help control blood sugar levels.

They act on brain areas that influence hunger and appetite and slow how quickly the stomach empties, helping people regulate their eating habits.

UK health innovation minister Dr Zubir Ahmed said: “As a practising NHS surgeon and Glasgow MP, I know firsthand the impact of the obesity crisis that plagues Scotland – and the litany of health problems it leads to.

“More than one in three adults in Scotland’s most deprived areas are living with obesity. The UK government is committed to tackling inequality wherever it finds it in our country.

“It’s why this landmark UK government investment is targeting help where it’s needed most in Scotland and meeting people where they are, backing the NHS services they trust to treat them.”

The study will test how weight-loss medicines can be delivered effectively and fairly in everyday NHS care, measuring outcomes such as weight loss, quality of life and reductions in obesity-related illness. Researchers will also examine NHS costs and whether improved health helps people remain in work.

The trial will involve between 3,000 and 5,000 Scottish patients living with obesity who researchers say will benefit most from the medicines.

As obesity is a leading cause of long-term illness including heart disease and cancer, tackling it could help millions live longer, healthier lives and save the NHS billions each year.

Jason Gill, professor of cardiometabolic health at Glasgow University and lead researcher, said: “While tackling obesity requires multifactorial public health action, incretin therapies add a powerful new tool to the national obesity strategy.

“The burden of obesity is greatest in the most deprived segments 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 care, providing incretin treatment via primary and community care to Scottish adults living with obesity, with a focus on those in the most economically deprived communities.”

The study team will work with industry and clinical partners to develop AI-driven digital technologies supporting patient access, engagement and data collection.

If successful, the findings could lead to a wider rollout of the injections across the UK.

Scottish minister for public health Jenni Minto said the Scottish government was proud to be leading the way in tackling obesity through innovation and collaboration.

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

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

“By learning how these weight-loss medicines work, and how we can support them to reach our most deprived areas, we can slash health inequalities in Scotland and the rest of the UK so that our obesity strategy delivers a real, lasting change.”