A UK study suggests that weight-loss injections could significantly reduce sickness absence and alleviate strain on the NHS. Research presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Istanbul found that sick leave among patients prescribed GLP-1 medications fell by nearly half over nine months, with long-term absences of five days or more dropping by over 50%.
The study analysed 1,270 NHS patients on Oviva's tier 3 weight management programme, all of whom had at least three weight-related conditions such as anxiety, high blood pressure, or type 2 diabetes. Most took semaglutide (Wegovy or Ozempic) and lost an average of 12.4% of their body weight, with their average BMI falling from 45 to 39.
Patients also required fewer GP visits: face-to-face appointments dropped by 43% and remote consultations by 48%, with over 60% not contacting their GP at all. A separate study of 738 patients found A&E visits fell by a quarter. Experts estimate that expanding access to the 3.4 million eligible adults could free up nearly 10 million GP appointments annually, saving the NHS around £364 million per year.
Martin Fidock, UK managing director of Oviva, said: 'Britain is in the grip of a productivity crisis, and obesity is one of the biggest drivers. Our data shows that when people get the right treatment – jabs combined with proper clinical support – they don’t just lose weight. They get back to work, stop relying on their GP and start living again.'
Dr Charlotte Refsum of the Tony Blair Institute called the findings 'striking', adding that broader access to anti-obesity medications could deliver significant economic gains and NHS savings. Additional Danish studies presented at the conference suggested the drugs may also reduce asthma exacerbations and migraine medication use.
