UK believes diet drugs could reduce unemployment, but experts disagree

UK believes diet drugs could reduce unemployment, but experts disagree

Weight-loss drugs such as Wegovy and Ozempic are considered revolutionary in medicine worldwide. The British government hopes that their use will not only improve the health of the unemployed, but also ease the burden on public finances and ultimately save money in the healthcare system.

Life-changing treatments

“For many people, these weight-loss supplements will be life-changing, helping them get back to work and easing the burden on the NHS,” British Health Secretary Wes Streeting recently wrote in The Telegraph newspaper.

Streeting pointed out that obesity represents a “significant burden on our health service,” costing £11 billion ($14 billion) annually. In addition, being overweight causes people to take an average of four additional sick days per year, which harms the economy.

Five-year medication use study

To address this trend, the government is funding a five-year study of the weight loss drug Mounjaro, also known as Tirzepatide. This study will be conducted in collaboration with drug manufacturer Eli Lilly and will collect data on participants' quality of life as well as changes in employment status and sick day tracking.

However, the plan has faced opposition from health professionals who claim that the new pharmaceutical treatments will lead to... massive demand that the public health system cannot cope with.

Need for additional measures

Health experts are calling for additional measures to prevent obesity as urgently needed. According to the latest Health Survey for England, at least 29% of adults in England obese, as do 15% of children between the ages of 2 and 15.

Obesity and healthcare debate

Obesity is the second leading preventable cause of death in England, after smoking. It is also a risk factor for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, dementia, liver disease and several types of cancer.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has stressed that his government needs to “think differently” about how to ease pressure on the national health service, which is beset by staff shortages and financial constraints. Part of this new thinking is exploring weight loss medications.

Challenges in implementing treatments

But obesity experts and health professionals point out that the already overstretched health service is struggling to deliver medicines on a large scale. "The idea that this is the solution to obesity is a complete illusion. We must continue to prevent as many cases as possible," said Alfred Slade, head of government affairs at the Obesity Health Alliance.

The OHA crunched the numbers on existing weight-loss drugs like Wegovy, the brand name for the appetite suppressant semaglutide. The result? It is almost impossible to make it widely available.

Currently, around 4.1 million people who are overweight meet the criteria to receive Wegovy through England's national health system. Yet due to underfunding of NHS services and staff shortages, up to 50,000 people a year will actually receive the treatment, according to OHA estimates.

Expanding drug availability

To improve access, the government also plans to expand the use of the drug Mounjaro, or tirzepatide, for patients with obesity in addition to type 2 diabetes patients. The Ministry of Health says up to 250,000 people with the greatest need could benefit over the next three years.

However, the Alliance notes that it is unclear how the government will cover the cost of the drugs, or how it will fund the necessary "ancillary support" needed alongside these prescriptions, such as nutritional advice and physical activity support, to ensure patients do not muscle mass as well as lose fat.

Prevention as a key factor

A key problem with weight-loss drugs is that they treat "the symptom rather than the cause" of obesity, says Martin White, a professor of population studies at the University of Cambridge. Experts emphasize that both aspects need to be addressed.

“You're turning a societal problem into a medical one,” White explained, noting that the rapid rise in obesity rates correlates with the rise of processed and fast food in society. “It is a problem of the population as a whole, not the problems of a small number of individuals,” he added.

Taxes and Regulation

A possible solution is to introduce higher taxes on unhealthy products. The UK's sugar tax on sugary soft drinks has already led to manufacturers reducing the sugar content in sodas, and studies show price increases are turning off some consumers. There are growing calls for a similar tax on foods containing sugar and salt.

The experts are also calling for stricter marketing regulations to avoid advertising unhealthy foods to children. A landmark law will come into effect in the UK in October 2025, banning the advertising of junk food before 9pm on television, streaming services and online.

Healthy nutrition in public institutions

Another policy solution is to provide healthier food in public sector settings such as schools, hospitals and prisons. White emphasizes that this type of intervention could also be applied to the private sector if offices and corporate caterers were required to offer healthier food options.

Schools also have problems implementing existing healthy eating policies, which is another area that could benefit from more oversight and investment. A Government report has called for more funding to expand access to free and nutritious school meals.

Long-term effects of prevention

“More and more we are seeing children gain weight from a very early age,” White added. “If you can prevent this very early on, the savings in healthcare will be enormous.” Of course, changing an entire nutritional system is more difficult than prescribing a drug. But the challenge of solving an obesity problem that affects around a third of British adults requires multifaceted solutions across all sectors of society.

“There is no magic bullet for obesity,” emphasizes the Obesity Health Alliance.