United Kingdom is considering prescribing slimming injections for the obese unemployed
The UK is currently facing a public health and economic crisis as two out of three Britons are overweight or obese, placing a huge burden on the NHS and the country’s economy. In this context, the government has proposed an unprecedented measure: Offering weight loss injections to obese and unemployed peopleWith the aim of helping them re-enter the labor market and reducing pressure on the health system.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer highlighted the relevance of this proposal during an interview with the BBC, saying that the scheme will not only benefit people who need to lose weight, but will also have a positive impact on the economy and the NHS. “This medicine will be very useful for those who want and need to lose weight.” This is very important for the economy, because it will allow people returned to workone of the two“And also for the NHS, because it will reduce pressure on the system,” explained Starmer, who underlined the need to think differently to tackle both the economic and public health challenges.
The proposal takes on particular relevance following comments from Health Minister Wes Streeting, who has strongly defended the use of weight loss injections such as Monjaro and Ozempic. Streeting has highlighted the transformative potential of these drugs, which work by mimicking appetite-suppressing hormones, making people feel full for longer periods of time. In an opinion piece published in ‘The Telegraph’, Streeting said this “Increasingly Widening Waist” are exercising a huge pressure on nhsAnd that the long-term benefits of these drugs could be “monumental.” Furthermore, it was discovered that obesity-related diseases cost the NHS approximately £11 billion per year (about €12.5 billion), which is more than treating diseases associated with smoking.
The economic impact of obesity has also been highlighted as one of the major reasons behind this measure. Obesity not only affects people’s health, but also their ability to participate fully in the labor market. According to Streeting, obese people, on average, four more days sick leave per year than people at a healthy weight, and many of them are forced to give up work altogether because of health complications related to their weight. This phenomenon not only affects productivity, but also represents an annual cost of 74 billion pounds (about 83.9 billion euros) in terms of health problems and loss of productivity.
To comprehensively address this issue, the government has ensured that 279 million pounds investment (about 316 million euros) from the pharmaceutical company Lilly, which will be allocated to the development of new treatments and studies on the effect of weight loss injections on unemployment. As part of the agreement, a five-year study will be conducted in Manchester, led by Health Innovation Manchester and Lilly, to evaluate the impact of the Monzaro drug on reducing demand and returning people to work who use the drug. For services to the NHS. Health officials estimate that approximately 250,000 people will get these injections Over the next three years, but he cautioned that the introduction of this treatment will have to be done gradually.
The measure is part of a broader government approach to encourage innovation in obesity treatment and improve public health. During an international investment summit hosted by Starmer, it was announced that Lilly would also develop mobile apps to help patients manage their weight, and would explore setting up a manufacturing base in the UK. According to Peter Kyle, head of science and technology, this collaboration puts the United Kingdom in a leading position «Global Test Bed» for the development of anti-obesity drugs, a market that is expected to grow fivefold by 2030.
However, the proposal has generated some criticism. Obesity policy expert Dr Dolly van Tuelken questioned the feasibility of the measure, pointing out that millions of people would be eligible to receive the injection, while specialist weight management services could only care for a small number of people. 49,000 people per yearVan Tulken also warned that these types of policies had been tried before with negative results, and criticized the fact that people were evaluated based on their “potential economic value” rather than focusing on their health needs. Is being done on the basis.
Ways to prevent “unhealthy lifestyle”
Additionally, some health experts warn that these injections are neither a quick fix nor a substitute for a healthy diet and physical activity. While medications such as Monzaro and Ozempic can be effective for weight loss, they should be used under medical supervision and as part of a comprehensive approach that also includes lifestyle changes. Former Health Minister Lord Bethell stressed the need for the NHS to take “concrete steps” to focus on prevention rather than simply “medicalizing” the problem of obesity nationally.
For her part, NHS Chief Executive Amanda Pritchard praised the potential of these drugs, and described them as a “A paradigm shift” in obesity treatment.Pritchard highlighted that, in addition to helping people lose weight, these drugs may reduce the risk of serious diseases such as diabetes, heart attacks and stroke. “Today we have an important opportunity to better understand the benefits of weight management interventions for patients and how to best implement them in the years to come,” he said.
The challenge for governments is to strike a balance between taking advantage of pharmaceutical advances and encouraging greater personal responsibility for health. As Streeting said, “The NHS cannot always afford the costs of unhealthy lifestyles.”