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6mo ago

UK Government Trials Weight-Loss Jabs to Tackle Unemployment

The initiative aims to reduce obesity-related unemployment, but faces criticism and overwhelming demand on NHS resources.

UK Health Minister Wes Streeting proposed weight loss jabs for unemployed to boost employment and reduce NHS costs.
Illustration of a person using Ozempic, unemployment figures
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Overview

  • Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced a trial of weight-loss drugs, in partnership with Eli Lilly, to address obesity and unemployment.
  • The initiative is part of a £279 million investment in the UK life sciences sector to develop new treatments and assess their impact on work productivity.
  • Critics argue that the plan oversimplifies the complex causes of unemployment and that weight-loss jabs alone cannot solve economic deprivation.
  • The NHS is struggling to meet the high demand for these drugs, with warnings from healthcare professionals about overstretched resources.
  • Public opinion is divided, with a YouGov poll showing more support among Labour voters for the rollout of weight-loss jabs to help the unemployed.