Breaking the access barrier to weight-loss drugs: NICE turns to digital platform services as the solution
AI-translated from the Chinese original · editorially reviewed
Republished with permission from Pharmascan
For people living with obesity, traditional in-person weight management comes with many barriers that keep them from weight management services and weight-loss medication. In response, the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued draft guidance on "digital weight management platforms," aiming to give people with obesity a new option that resolves the difficulties they face in accessing weight-loss support.
Barriers to weight-loss resources: uneven distribution of care and long waiting lists
In the UK, specialist medical care is unevenly distributed across regions, and weight management is no exception. People in areas without relevant specialists must travel long distances to obtain the weight-loss resources and medical advice they need. This adds financial and time burdens, and can sap the motivation to seek care at all — meaning that, under these conditions, delivering weight management services in person and meeting the medical needs of people with obesity is no easy task.
Beyond the distribution problem, long patient waiting lists that cannot be cleared promptly are another serious issue — especially when help is needed right away. Lengthy waiting lists not only delay access to weight-loss services but add to the inconvenience of obtaining them, further pushing people away from seeking medical help. For obesity, a condition that calls for early intervention and management, the health damage caused by poor access is precisely what must be avoided.
NICE endorses four digital weight management platforms: Liva, Oviva, Roczen, Second Nature platform
In response, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) issued draft guidance on "digital weight management platforms," putting forward four platforms — Liva, Oviva, Roczen, and the Second Nature platform — in the hope that more convenient, faster options will lower the barriers people with obesity face when seeking weight-loss resources and medical support.
To be enrolled on a digital weight management platform, individuals must meet the following criteria: a body mass index (BMI) of at least 35 kg/m2 (or other specified conditions), together with at least one weight-related comorbidity such as diabetes or hypertension.
Before a weight-loss program actually begins, a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals conducts a clinical assessment of each individual, including psychological support and monitoring, to reduce the risk of harm from eating disorders, mental health issues, and the like. Weight-loss medication can also be prescribed based on the individual's condition — such as semaglutide (Wegovy, Novo Nordisk) or liraglutide (Saxenda, Novo Nordisk) — combined with dietary control and an exercise plan.
Unlike the old routine of long journeys and waiting rooms, these four weight management platforms can be accessed from a mobile app or a computer. For people who have struggled to obtain weight-loss resources, these platforms are a genuinely convenient new option — sparing the considerable time and money of traveling to a healthcare facility, and delivering convenient, safe, professional weight-loss services directly online.
What benefits will digital weight management platforms bring?
Four years after the platforms enter use, NICE will consolidate the data for a full evaluation to ensure the best quality of care and cost-effectiveness.
According to the 2021 Health Survey for England, 37.9% of adults in England are overweight and 25.9% are obese.
Over two years of digital weight management platform use, economic modeling shows the new technology is cost-effective in the initial period: weight-loss outcomes achieved through the digital platforms are comparable to those of in-person, face-to-face weight management delivered by professionals.
While final results cannot yet be confirmed, in four years NICE will be able to assess the long-term cost-effectiveness of the digital weight management platforms — including the real-world performance of the weight-loss drugs semaglutide and liraglutide. NICE's independent committee will then develop new guidance accordingly.
NICE estimates that about 48,000 people could be eligible for the digital weight management platforms. If everyone eligible took part, some 145,000 hours of clinic appointments could be saved in the future.
Note: At present only Liva has been approved for use by NHS England; Oviva, Roczen, and the Second Nature platform are still awaiting approval.
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