Public Health England (PHE) has launched a new Weight Management Economic Assessment Tool for public health professionals.

The new feature is designed to help local authorities (LAs) assess the financial benefit of adult weight management programmes to prevent and reduce obesity.

LAs will now be able to compare the cost of a programme with potential future healthcare savings that may result, as they bid to achieve a decline in obesity rates by 2020.

The tool estimates the health impact of weight loss in any group of adults who have participated in a programme. The tool allows users to enter their own local data, which can then be used to produce forecasts for up to 25 years.

“Commissioners need to understand the likely economic consequences of the interventions they fund and this tool gives them a good idea of the potential future healthcare savings from tackling obesity and overweight,” said Professor John Newton, chief knowledge officer at PHE.

“Everyone in public health is working hard to make a difference to overweight and obesity in their areas. It is vital that we build confidence that this work not only reduces the wider negative consequences of obesity but has worthwhile financial benefits for the care system as well.”