Unemployed people could receive weight loss injections to return to work

The Prime Minister told the BBC that proposals to help unemployed people living with obesity lose weight could be “hugely important” to our economy and health.

sir keir starmer He acknowledged that the NHS needed more funding. The government also needed to “think differently” to reduce pressure on the health system.

His comments came after Health Secretary Wes Streeting said jabs could be given to help people return to work.

Some injections are already prescribed on the NHS to treat obesity and are also prescribed to people with diabetes.

Sir Keir told the BBC the jab would be “hugely useful” for people who want or need to lose weight.

”[The drug is] It's very important for our NHS, because yes, we need more money for our NHS, but we also need to think differently. ”

Street suggested the drug could be “life-changing” for individuals.

in Telegraph opinion articlethe Health Secretary wrote: “Wide waistbands are also placing a significant strain on our health services.”

“The long-term benefits of these drugs could be huge in our approach to tackling obesity.”

Mr Streeting said obesity-related illnesses cost the NHS £11 billion a year.

His words came as the government announced a £279m investment from Lilly, the world's largest pharmaceutical company. international investment summit Hosted by Sir Keir.

Plans announced at the summit will include a real-world trial of the impact of weight-loss jabs on unemployment rates, the Telegraph reported.

5 years The study by Health Innovation Manchester and Lilly will examine whether the drug Mounjaro is given, It will reduce the impact on unemployment and access to NHS services and will be held in Greater Manchester.

NHS officials have suggested that the rollout of the drug across England will need to be staggered due to expected high demand.

Nearly 250,000 people are expected to receive the Munjaro shot over the next three years, officials said.

The Health Secretary added that weight loss injections could reduce the number of sick days due to obesity and also benefit the economy.

“Obesity-related illnesses mean people take an average of four extra days of sick leave a year, while many are forced to quit their jobs altogether,” he said. .

However, he said individuals must continue to take responsibility for taking “healthy living more seriously” because “we cannot expect the NHS to always catch unhealthy lifestyles”.

“As a nation, we are eating more, eating less healthy, and exercising less. The cost to individuals in reduced health and shorter lifespans is clear.”

Obesity policy expert Dr Dolly van Tureken said the scheme would target a population of “several million people” and that specialist weight management services could only treat 49,000 people a year. He said it was unrealistic.

He said the policy idea of ​​giving incentives to obese unemployed people was not new and had previously resulted in “very bad” outcomes.

She told the Today show that the plan considers people based on their “potential economic value” rather than their needs.

Some weight loss drugs are already prescribed by the NHS. The drug, which suppresses appetite, is sold under the brand names Wegovy, which is used to treat obesity, and Ozempic, which is used to treat diabetes.

It comes in the form of an injection and works similar to the hormone GLP-1, making you feel full and reducing hunger.

Experts have warned in the past that the drug is not a quick-fix treatment or a replacement for eating well and exercising and should only be offered under medical supervision.

Lord Bethell, the former health secretary, said the NHS “needs to take concrete steps to pivot to prevention and avoid simply medicalizing the problem of obesity in our population”.

NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard said the drug could be a “transformer” for public health and could reduce the risk of diabetes, heart attack and stroke.

“We welcome this opportunity to partner with the UK government on accelerating innovation to address and prevent disease and advance care delivery models,” said David A. Rix, Lilly's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. ” he said.