Weight-loss jabs could halve sickness absence and ease strain on NHS
Some good news in the media today, a UK study of 1,270 NHS patients on a tier 3 weight management programme found that GLP-1 injections reduced sickness absence by 45% over nine months, with long-term sick leave (5+ days) dropping by 56%.
The knock-on effects on healthcare were striking too with face-to-face GP appointments dropping 43%, remote consultations fell 48%, and over 60% of patients didn't contact their GP at all.
Researchers estimate that if the programme were expanded to all 3.4 million people currently eligible for weight-loss jabs on the NHS, it could free up nearly 10 million GP appointments per year, saving around £364m annually.
The findings were presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2026) in Istanbul. Two separate Danish studies at the same conference also found GLP-1 drugs reduced asthma flare-ups by 26% and acute migraine medication use by 18% in young adults.