Currently, general practices and community pharmacies can refer into to the NHS Digital Weight Management Programme. Find more information here:

• how general practices can refer into the programme
• how community pharmacies can refer into the programme

About the programme

The programme offers online access to a weight management programme to people living with obesity who also have a diagnosis of either diabetes, hypertension, or both.

Evidence suggests that inequalities exist in access to and completion of weight management services. The NHS Digital Weight Management Programme offers health coaching support to people with demographics that suggests they may be less likely to engage with or complete behavioural change programmes.

With choice of providers, the programme is designed to offer participants a personalised experience to help them manage their weight and improve longer term health outcomes.

Who can be referred?

Referrals to the programme are only for people that meet the following criteria:

• are over the age of 18
• have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more (adjusted to ≥27.5 for people from black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds)
• have a diagnosis of diabetes (type 1 or type 2), hypertension or both.

Who cannot be referred?

Any person that meets any of the following criteria should not be referred to the programme:

• recorded as having moderate or severe frailty
• is pregnant
• has an active eating disorder
• has had bariatric surgery in the last two years
• people for whom a weight management programme is considered to pose greater risk of harm than benefit.

For people aged over 80 years old, the referrer will need to confirm on the referral form that a weight management programme is considered likely to pose greater benefit than harm.

What participants can expect when they enrol on to the NHS Digital Weight Management Programme

This animated video explains what participants can expect from the 12 week programme.

Join our Futures network

To find further resources and access learning from colleagues have implemented the Programme, join our Futures network.

How the programme supports the NHS 10 Year Health Plan

Obesity is a serious health concern that increases the risks of many other health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, joint problems, mental health problems and some cancers.

The NHS Digital Weight Management Programme is a named commitment in the NHS 10 Year Health Plan, and supports the delivery of one of its three aims; moving from sickness to prevention, by focusing on weight management to support people living with obesity. The plan announced a commitment to double the capacity of the NHS Digital Weight Management Programme by 2028/29.

Weight management services can provide substantial health benefits to people and can benefit the NHS by preventing future diseases. The Programme means weight management services are accessible to more people and provides weight management services flexibly, without the need for people to travel.

Evidence from the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme shows that digital and remote weight management services are more likely to be accessed by younger (working age) people whilst maintaining comparable results to face-to-face weight management services.

The programme has been designed to offer service users a personalised level of intervention to support them manage their weight, improve quality of life and improve longer term health outcomes. It works alongside and does not replace existing weight management services funded by local authorities.