The UK government plans to give weight loss jabs to its unemployed citizens. The plan aims to help citizens get back to their work while minimising the financial strain of the National Health Service (NHS).

The push was given in order to reduce the increasing obesity rate of the country and maximise the workforce of the country. Citing the plan Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the new medication will help the obese get in shape while making Britain work. 

Mr Streeting has announced a £280 million investment from Lilly, the world's largest pharmaceutical company, to make new medicines and treatment methods. The plans include the first real-world trial to study how these drugs affect on worklessness, productivity, and reliance on the NHS.

Mr Streeting said, “ Rising number of obesity in people was not only a big challenge to the NHS but also affecting the economy of the country.” He further added, “ As a nation we are eating more, eating unhealthy with less exercise whose outcome is an unhealthy body and a short life.”

"Growing obesity rates are putting a huge strain on the NHS, costing £11 billion a year - more than smoking. This also impacts the economy, as obesity-related illnesses lead to an average of four extra sick days per person, and many others are unable to work at all" he added.

An obese body can lead to various diseases like heart attack, cancer, type 2 diabetes and many more. Each year the NHS spends about 40 percent of its budget on preventing health conditions, a figure which is likely to reach 60 percent in 2040.

In comparison to drugs like semaglutide (used for weight loss) and Ozempic (used for diabetes), the drug made by Lily is more effective, according to clinical trials.

The study will recruit up to 3,000 obese patients, including those who are employed and those on sick leave, over five years. It aims to determine if the medication can improve productivity and help more people return to work. The Health Secretary emphasised that the injections should complement, not replace, efforts to improve unhealthy lifestyles. He noted that addressing obesity could play a significant role in tackling the issue of worklessness, with 9.3 million people currently economically inactive.

The long-term benefits of this drug will be of great importance to tackle the issue of obesity. People will have a number of benefits from this drug and will get back to their work, easing the burden of the NHS.

Despite the availability of these drugs, it is very important for everyone to follow a healthy lifestyle and make their health in priority. Streeting also emphasised his plan to ban junk food and reform the NHS to focus more on the prevention of ill-health.