Weight-loss jabs could halve sickness absence and ease strain on NHS, study suggests

"A UK study of patients who received GLP-1 jabs for nine months found sickness days fell by nearly half and sickness absence lasting five days or more fell by more than 50%. Analysis of the findings suggests expanding access could cut A&E attendance by obese patients by a quarter and free up nearly 10m GP appointments. The study, presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Istanbul, assessed 1,270 NHS patients on Oviva's tier 3 weight management programme."

"After nine months, they lost an average of 12.4% of their body weight, while patients' average BMI fell from 45 to 39. Sick days among those that took the jabs fell by 45%, while there was a 56% reduction in long-term sick leave, classed as absences of five days or more. Patients also did not need to see a GP as often. Face-to-face appointments dropped by an average of 43% and remote consultations by 48%."

"More than 60% said they did not contact their GP at all. A separate study of 738 patients who were prescribed the jabs found A&E visits among the group fell by one quarter. With about 30% of adults in England classed as obese, experts said if the programme were expanded to the 3.4 million people currently eligible for weight-loss jabs on the NHS, it could free up nearly 10m GP appointments every year, saving the health service about 364m a year equivalent to almost 3% of the GP core budget."

"All were prescribed GLP-1 injections for their weight alongside at least three weight-related illnesses, most commonly anxiety, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. The majority took semaglutide (either Wegovy for weight loss or Ozempic for type 2 diabetes). After nine months, they lost an average of 12.4% of their body weight, while patients' average BMI fell from 45 to 39."

A UK study of 1,270 NHS patients on a tier 3 weight management programme assessed GLP-1 injections over nine months. Patients lost an average of 12.4% of body weight and average BMI fell from 45 to 39. Sick days fell by 45%, and long-term sick leave, defined as absences lasting five days or more, fell by 56%. Face-to-face appointments dropped by 43% and remote consultations by 48%, with more than 60% reporting no GP contact at all. A separate study of 738 patients found A&E visits fell by one quarter. Expanding access to eligible people could free nearly 10 million GP appointments annually and save about £364 million per year.

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