Tackling Obesity Through Clinical Research: Expanding Access & Capacity

Obesity is one of the biggest global health challenges and it’s certainly a critical one in the UK, with over 23.4 million adults projected to be living with obesity by 2050*. With its links to at least 13 types of cancer and other serious health conditions**, the need for innovation in obesity treatment has never been greater.
Clinical research is at the heart of tackling this crisis and alongside traditional NHS research sites, commercial site networks are playing a critical role in expanding capacity, increasing accessibility, and enabling inclusive participation for patients.

A Growing Health Inequality

Obesity is not just a health issue; it’s a stark reflection of widening inequalities. In England, 35% of people in the most deprived areas are living with obesity - a figure set to rise to nearly 46% by 2040***. Severe childhood obesity rates are also more than four times higher in the most deprived areas compared to the least deprived. Without intervention, these disparities will continue to grow, increasing the burden on healthcare services and deepening health inequalities.

Why the UK is a Prime Location for Obesity Research

The UK is perfectly positioned for obesity studies, offering unique advantages that make it an ideal location for clinical trials. With unparalleled access to patient data, long-term co-morbidities are easy to track due to holistic patient medical records which enable robust and efficient research outcomes. Additionally, unlike the US, the UK has a large population of GLP-1 naïve patients, providing a critical opportunity to study new treatments in those who haven’t been exposed to existing therapies. These factors make the UK a key player in advancing obesity research and treatment.

The Role of Community-Based Research

At EMS Healthcare, we’re committed to ensuring that these vital studies reach those who need them most. As the UK’s largest independent site network, our flexible, community-based research sites help to:

• Increase Access – Making research more inclusive by improving representation, inclusivity and equity among study participants, with a focus on taking research to underserved communities.
• Redress Health Inequalities – By targeting the placement of research sites to specific populations, we ensure that new treatments are trialled by those most affected, making future medications more relevant and effective for those that need them most.
• Address Capacity Challenges – Supporting NHS providers who may struggle to meet the growing demand on infrastructure and workforce for weight loss services.
• Support a Strong Therapy Pipeline – As obesity treatments expand in their indications, our research sites provide the network to test and refine the next generation of therapies.

By deploying flexible research sites, we remove traditional barriers to participation, such as travel constraints and lack of local trial availability. This approach not only expands trial capacity but also supports the recruitment of diverse populations, ensuring that new treatments are tested in a way that reflects the real-world patient population.

The Future of Obesity Research and Care

With a growing focus on prevention and new treatment options, the UK must look to supplement traditional research models. By leveraging independent site networks, we can create a more inclusive, scalable, and patient-centric clinical trial ecosystem, one that truly meets the needs of those affected by obesity.

At EMS Healthcare, we’re committed to making research more accessible, ensuring that groundbreaking treatments reach the patients who need them most.

On World Obesity Day, we reaffirm our commitment to tackling obesity through community-focused research and innovation. By working together, we can drive real change and improve health outcomes for millions.

Sources: 
* https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(25)00355-1/fulltext
** https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/causes-of-cancer/bodyweight-and-cancer/how-does-obesity-cause-cancer
*** https://news.cancerresearchuk.org/2022/05/19/new-analysis-estimates-over-21-million-uk-adults-will-be-obese-by-2040/#:~:text=In%20England%20in%202019%2C%2035,estimated%20to%20increase%20to%2025%25.