The Gro Health W8Buddy app, a pioneering digital tool designed for NHS Specialist Weight Management Services has received funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and the Office for Life Sciences (OLS).
The funding supports a groundbreaking project to explore the long-term impact of using digital technology to support individuals living with obesity.
The project, led by Dr Petra Hanson from the University of Warwick will compare outcomes between patients using Gro Health W8Buddy and those receiving standard care through NHS weight management services.
By gathering real-world evidence, the study aims to highlight the potential benefits of integrating digital tools like W8Buddy into routine care, offering insights into how such technologies can improve patient outcomes and enhance the NHS’s approach to weight management.
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Gro Health W8Buddy has been recognised as a promising medical technology that addresses a critical national unmet need.
With its innovative approach, the tool holds the potential to significantly impact both patients and the wider health and care system, making it a valuable addition to the NHS’s portfolio of weight management solutions.
Driving innovation in healthcare
The W8Buddy project is one of seven initiatives funded by NIHR and OLS to position the UK as a leader in late-stage health innovation.
Funding aims to help innovative technologies like W8Buddy generate the robust evidence required for full NICE guidance approval and accelerate their adoption within the NHS.
Professor Mike Lewis, NIHR’s Scientific Director for Innovation, commented: “The UK is a hotbed of innovation, but the NHS sometimes misses out on the opportunity to adopt new digital technologies at scale.”
Rosalind Campion, Director at the Office for Life Sciences, added: “MedTech has a hugely important role in improving patient outcomes, boosting NHS productivity, and transforming the NHS through life sciences.
“However, its full potential is held back without the ability to generate the real-world evidence needed to support wider access and uptake.”
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Charlotte Summers, Chief Operations Officer for DDM Health, makers of the Gro Health app commencted: “We are thrilled to receive this support from NIHR and OLS for Gro Health W8Buddy which represents a significant step in our mission to reduce health inequalities through innovative digital health solutions.
“Building on years of co-production with healthcare professionals and patients, W8Buddy is designed to empower individuals living with obesity to achieve meaningful outcomes while improving access to effective care. We are excited to work toward demonstrating the app’s potential to transform weight management services across the NHS.”
By demonstrating the effectiveness of tools like Gro Health W8Buddy, the project aims to transform the landscape of obesity care, offering hope to those living with obesity and enhancing NHS efficiency.
The ultimate goal is to make innovative, patient-centered technologies an integral part of NHS care, ensuring better outcomes for patients and a more sustainable healthcare system.
