Weight management services
Obesity is when you have more body fat than your body needs. This can lead to serious health conditions. If you need specialist support, new weight management services are available.
About obesity
For information on obesity, the risks and causes of obesity and what lifestyle changes you can make to lose weight, visit:
Regional Obesity Management Service (ROMS)
The Regional Obesity Management Service (ROMS) is a new specialist weight management service for adults living with complex obesity who need specialist support.
This service is being introduced on a phased basis, to support people with complex obesity needs who have been unable to achieve or maintain significant weight loss through other approaches.
Phase one of ROMS is for adults aged 18 and over with a BMI above 45 and at least one of the following health conditions:
- cardiovascular disease (including ischaemic heart disease, stroke, peripheral vascular disease, and heart failure)
- hypertension (high blood pressure requiring medication)
- dyslipidaemia (raised cholesterol or triglycerides)
- obstructive sleep apnoea (confirmed by sleep study)
- type 2 diabetes
Support available
Work is ongoing to establish the new service. Further details on how you can access the service will be available soon.
Following your initial assessment by a healthcare professional, a care plan will be developed with you.
This may include:
- support to set realistic weight loss goals
- dietary and nutritional advice
- physical activity guidance
- behavioural change support
- clinical monitoring and review
- specialist physiotherapy
- clinical psychology input
- weight loss medication, where appropriate
Obesity Pathway Innovation Programme (OPIP)
If your BMI is in the range of 30 to 39.9, you may be eligible for a new weight management service called the Obesity Pathway Innovation Programme (OPIP).
This service offers structured, personalised support to help adults living with obesity manage their weight and improve their health through a partnership of health and community organisations across Northern Ireland.
It includes support from:
- digital tools
- multidisciplinary clinical teams
- community pharmacies
- locally delivered health initiatives
OPIP will shortly be available within selected areas in the Northern and Southern Health and Social Care Trusts, subject to your postcode.
If eligible, you can self-refer to take part in the Obesity Pathway Innovation Programme (OPIP).
Further details and a guide on how to do this will be available soon.