New research shows that injections to lose weight more widely on the NHS can bring huge financial benefits by reducing sick leave and reducing the burden of obesity-related diseases.
A study of 421 NHS patients using the latest generation of obesity drugs found that the number of days with illness dropped by one third within three months after starting treatment. According to Oviva, the UK’s largest weight loss support service provider, the three months of sick leave mergers fell to 334 days after three months of use.
Six months later, 77% of patients reported no sick leave at all – a 63% surge before starting treatment.
These findings highlight the potential economic impact of wider obesity injections. Government data shows that British workers accounted for 149 million patients in 2024, lower than the peak of the pandemic era, but nearly 10 million higher than before 2020.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has previously described obesity as a key to the workforce, with obese patients “on average four more sick days a year” and many people leave jobs altogether.
“These drugs could have a huge impact in our struggle to address obesity and return unemployed British people to work,” Mr Streeting said.
Government modeling shows that universal rollouts can save taxpayers £5 billion by increasing productivity and reducing health care costs. It is estimated that obesity will lose about £98 billion of the UK economy every year, including £15 billion of productivity and £19 billion of direct NHS spending.
Despite political enthusiasm, the launch of pokes such as Mounjaro, made by Eli Lilly, is still slow. According to Oviva, at the end of June, 32,000 patients were still awaiting appointments for NHS weight management, and only 1% of eligible patients are currently receiving treatment.
A quarter of England is expected to prescribe on the NHS over the next three years, but demand has exceeded supply.
Martin Fidock, head of Oviva in the UK, urged the minister to speed up the issuance: “The Prime Minister talks about improving UK productivity, but has not addressed millions of people who are unable to work due to poor health. Obese patients are twice as likely to be healthy as patients, but the UK’s postal code allows postal care measures for health care, which means that patients’ medical expenses can be treated.”
The average patient in the Oviva study is already 49 years old – an age group where obesity is usually the age group with comorbidities such as anxiety, depression, and hypertension. In addition to reducing the disease period, many patients reported lifestyle changes, including drinking more regular water and eating vegetables.
Research also links a new generation of weight loss therapies to broader health benefits, including halving the risk of cardiovascular disease death and reducing cancer risk.
Earlier this year, the Tony Blair Institute suggested that as part of the national obesity strategy, weight loss stamps could be provided to half of all UK adults. But if all 26 million British people have a BMI of 27 or more, drugs are provided, and the annual bill would be about £38 billion, or about 17% of the total NHS spending.
The debate policymakers are now facing is whether productivity increases and reduced health care costs exceed the upfront price of expanded access.
