UK Health Secretary Proposes Weight-Loss Injections to Tackle Obesity and Boost Workforce Participation

In a bold move, the UK government is exploring the use of weight-loss medications to address the obesity crisis and reduce the strain on the National Health Service (NHS). Health Secretary Wes Streeting revealed plans to offer injections to unemployed individuals struggling with obesity, aiming to help them return to the workforce. The UK’s obesity-related healthcare costs now exceed £11 billion per year, outstripping those for smoking-related treatments. Streeting sees medications like Wegovy and Mounjaro as transformative solutions, yet he insists on the need for personal responsibility in adopting healthier lifestyles. While Prime Minister Keir Starmer has backed the proposal, some health experts, such as Dr. Dolly van Tulleken, question whether such a solution is sustainable without broader changes, such as better access to nutritious food. Van Tulleken also pointed out that current weight-management services in the UK only treat a small fraction of the population in need.