A major new research institute, backed by £72 million in funding, has been established with the aim of transforming how obesity and its links to serious illness are understood, prevented and treated.
The UK Obesity Research Institute (UK-ORI) is being funded through a partnership between the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the British Heart Foundation (BHF), with the BHF’s contribution focused specifically on research into obesity’s impact on cardiovascular disease. The institute represents a significant investment in addressing what officials describe as one of the country’s most pressing health challenges.
A Growing Burden on the NHS
The launch comes as obesity places an increasing strain on individuals, health services and the wider economy. In England, there were 8,716 hospital admissions directly attributable to obesity between 2022 and 2023, marking a 13% rise on the previous year. Over the same period, obesity was recorded as a contributing factor in more than 1.2 million hospital admissions, an 8% increase compared to 2021 to 2022.
Investigating the Causes
UK-ORI will focus its research on the origins, prevention, treatment and health consequences of obesity, with particular attention paid to why the condition affects some people more severely than others. By drawing together expertise from biomedical science, medicine and technology, the institute hopes to develop treatments that are both more effective and more precisely targeted.
Researchers will also examine the connections between obesity and chronic conditions such as heart disease and cancer, using experimental medicine to test biological mechanisms in humans, ensuring that promising new therapies can be developed safely before reaching patients.
From Laboratory to Real-World Benefit
A central goal of the new institute is to speed up the process of turning scientific discoveries into practical health benefits, by strengthening the ties between academia, industry and the healthcare system, so that research breakthroughs translate into patient care more quickly.
Professor Patrick Chinnery, Executive Chair of the MRC, said obesity-related illness costs the NHS £6 billion each year and remains a leading cause of preventable, premature death. He explained that obesity should not be viewed simply as a matter of excess body fat or overeating, but rather as a complex biological condition shaped by genetics, hormones, brain function, metabolism, behaviour and environment. Chinnery said the new institute would bring together world-leading expertise to examine the problem from multiple angles, helping to uncover its underlying mechanisms and its links to other serious illnesses, ultimately supporting the development of more effective prevention and treatment strategies that could improve outcomes for millions.
Professor Bryan Williams, Chief Scientific and Medical Officer at the British Heart Foundation, described obesity as a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease, contributing to tens of thousands of heart attacks and strokes in the UK each year. He said the BHF was pleased to be partnering with the MRC to establish the institute, adding that obesity is frequently misunderstood despite being one of the biggest drivers of heart disease and stroke. Williams said the institute’s investment in cutting-edge science would help transform understanding of the condition, and accelerate the development of new prevention and treatment methods, so that more people can enjoy good health for longer.
The Wider Health Impact of Obesity
Obesity is known to alter metabolism, trigger chronic inflammation and place mechanical strain on the body, contributing to a range of serious complications. Among the most significant are type 2 diabetes, caused by insulin resistance, and cardiovascular problems, including high blood pressure, unhealthy cholesterol levels, heart attacks, heart failure and stroke.
The condition is also linked to liver and gallbladder disease, an increased risk of at least 13 types of cancer, including breast, colon and pancreatic cancer, as well as respiratory and joint problems such as sleep apnoea and osteoarthritis. Additionally, obesity raises the risk of chronic kidney disease and has been associated with idiopathic intracranial hypertension, a neurological condition involving raised pressure around the brain.
With this new institute now underway, researchers and health officials alike are hopeful that the investment will mark a turning point in the fight against one of Britain’s most costly and complex health challenges.
