Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 29 minutes ago
Access to specialist care and support for obesity remains limited. Data from the British Medical Journal show that in 2024 one in six integrated care boards in England stopped accepting new patients for specialist weight-management services. But demand is increasing and according to the WHO obesity in adults globally has more than doubled since 1990. Digital health platforms could help bridge that gap, offering more people access to long-term care and support. For many people living with obesity, attending in-person appointments can itself be a barrier to care, making virtual models an increasingly important part of the treatment landscape. Could digital obesity care scale without compromising trust, continuity and clinical standards of care? This session will explore a clinician’s perspective on the role of digital health alongside in-person care. It will discuss how to spot the signs of a credible and comprehensive service, and whether digital health can really help widen access to obesity care at scale globally–not just in overstretched specialist clinics.
Access to specialist care and support for obesity remains limited. Data from the British Medical Journal show that in 2024 one in six integrated care boards in England stopped accepting new patients for specialist weight-management services. But demand is increasing and according to the WHO obesity in adults globally has more than doubled since 1990. Digital health platforms could help bridge that gap, offering more people access to long-term care and support. For many people living with obesity, attending in-person appointments can itself be a barrier to care, making virtual models an increasingly important part of the treatment landscape. Could digital obesity care scale without compromising trust, continuity and clinical standards of care? This session will explore a clinician’s perspective on the role of digital health alongside in-person care. It will discuss how to spot the signs of a credible and comprehensive service, and whether digital health can really help widen access to obesity care at scale globally–not just in overstretched specialist clinics.
