Weight-loss jabs such as Ozempic are being hailed as a potential breakthrough in the fight against obesity.
Demand, fuelled by widespread news coverage and celebrity endorsements, has led to drug shortages and bumper profits for the pharmaceutical manufacturers. Behind this hype, all the evidence suggests they can be highly effective treatments, with the NHS already prescribing one such drug, Wegovy, for weight loss, with another, Mounjaro, coming on stream in March — although it is estimated that this will only support around 10 per cent of the clinically obese patients who might be eligible for this drug over the next three years.
Despite rising concerns over absence in the workplace and reduced productivity caused by obesity-related health issues few insurers are currently including weight-loss jabs in their benefits packages.
Some claim there is little demand for these products, but many insurers were hesitant to engage in discussions around this topic.
The potential cost of these treatments may be one consideration, but insurers indicated they wanted further research on these drugs, particularly in relation to potential side effects, longer-term health efficacy, and issues around a number of reported fatalities in the US.
Treatment options
Some insurers are now starting to offer these treatments though. Bupa offers Wegovy — a weight-loss jab with the same active ingredient as Ozempic — in certain circumstances, although it says customers need to be of a certain body mass index (BMI) to be eligible for the prescription.
A spokesperson for Bupa says: “Bupa Health Clinics offer a Weight Management Plan on a pay-as-you-go basis to support people to live healthier lifestyles, which includes a personalised programme of support on healthy eating and exercise.
“Following a discussion with the GP, Wegovy may be prescribed to sustain weight loss over the long term for customers with a BMI over 30 (or over 27 with at least one weight-related condition).”
Both Wegovy and Ozempic contain the same drug semaglutide, but differ in dosage and their approved uses. Ozempic is generally prescribed for type 2 diabetes management with Wegovy also approved for diabetes treatment but primarily licensed to help those dealing with obesity.
Later this year Bupa will also offer Mounjaro as part of its weight management plan, with GPs being able to prescribe Mounjaro, providing more options for weight management.
Mounjaro uses a different active ingredient, Tirzepatide. This is also approved for treatment of type 2 diabetes and stimulates insulin production. It also enhances feelings of fullness by targeting both GLP-1 and GIP hormones, which are involved in stimulating the body’s hunger and satiety responses. This offers a broader mechanism than Ozempic/Wegovy (Semaglutide), which primarily targets just the GLP-1 hormone.
Most leading UK insurers, including Vitality, Aviva and Axa, do not cover weight-loss jabs under their private medical insurance policies. PMI primarily offers cover for acute conditions, but can offer a range of additional ‘lifestyle management’ benefits, including weight loss support, through separate non-insured services.
Vitality Health, for example, provides access to a 12-week weight loss programme in partnership with Second Nature, but does not offer any jabs on this programme. However, separate to this, Second Nature offers both a Wegovy and Mounjaro weight loss programme.
Aviva UK Health distribution director Ally Antell says: “Private Medical Insurance provides cover for acute conditions. Treatment with Semaglutide, for diabetes or weight loss, is not a benefit under our policies.”
Axa Health chief medical officer Dr John Burke adds: “Private Medical Insurance (PMI) generally provides cover for unexpected illnesses and conditions that are likely to respond quickly to treatment (acute conditions) rather than the treatment of illnesses and conditions that could last a long time or come back again after treatment (chronic conditions). Therefore, currently cover would not usually be provided through PMI for the treatment of obesity.”
Longer-term health benefits
There is some evidence that drugs like Tirzepatide and semaglutide can help reduce people’s risk of developing heart disease or having a stroke. But the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) — the body that approves drugs for use on the NHS — stresses that these weight loss jabs are not a “magic bullet”. They need to be prescribed by a healthcare professional alongside programmes that help people lose weight and live healthier lives by making changes to their diet and physical activity.
Insurers are not ruling out further use of these drugs in future, particularly when it comes to managing costly longer-term health conditions. However they say further research is needed.
Burke says: “Axa Health welcomes the positive steps treatments such as these may
offer for people struggling with obesity and the associated health impacts, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and sleep issues. There is still much to discover in this area, especially regarding long term effects and a wider understanding of the place of such treatments in the complex area of obesity management.”
Insurers also say that at present there is little demand for employers for these weight-loss drugs, with many focusing on other healthcare priorities for staff.
Antell says: “We’re currently seeing an increase in corporate customers looking for ways to help control the cost of their private healthcare, while extending cover to as much of their workforce as possible. While we’re still seeing interest from employers in support for neurodivergent employees and life stage support such as menopause and fertility cover, we haven’t seen a demand for weight loss drugs.”
Risk assessments
While these treatments show promise for improving workers’ health, particularly in helping reduce risks of serious long-term illness, there are concerns about possible side effects. Novo Nordisk, the company that owns Ozempic, has faced lawsuits in the US over side-effects like gastroparesis, vision loss, and oesophageal injuries, along with common issues like muscle loss and nausea.
This raises questions for employers as to whether short-term side effects might outweigh some of the longer-term benefits if it results in increased sick days, shorter working hours, and reduced productivity. As weight loss jabs gain attention, employers must carefully consider their potential impact on both employee health and workplace performance.
There have also been a number of reports from the US, where around 10 deaths have been
linked to the use of these weight-loss drugs. In the UK, the Office for National Statistics (ONS)
does not currently track deaths related to weight loss jabs. However, in September last year, a 58-year-old female nurse became the first reported death in the UK linked to Tirzepatide, with her death certificate listing it as a contributing factor.
In response to a Freedom of Information request in October regarding deaths linked to weight loss drugs, the ONS stated: “We would need to use a high level of statistical skill and judgment in order to create a bespoke analysis or table. Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, Public Authorities are not obligated to create information in response to requests. We therefore consider this to be information not held.”
There is a danger that the slow rollout of weight-loss jabs, combined with providers only gradually expanding coverage to include them, may prompt individuals to seek alternatives elsewhere, a danger raised by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
It says buying prescription-only drugs like Ozempic from unauthorised online sources, can be risky, as people may be buying counterfeit versions containing harmful substances. In addition individuals are unlikely to get the required medical advice on correct dosage or support on diet and lifestyle changes. Worryingly, there have been reports of some people suffering serious side effects such as hypoglycaemic shock and coma due to fake products.
Obesity remains one of the major health issues facing the UK. Politicians are clearly hoping these weight-loss jabs will reduce obesity, and with it some of the pressures on the NHS, which could have a knock-on effect on workplace health and benefits.
Launching a trial in Greater Manchester to address obesity-related illnesses health secretary Wes Streeting said: “This is not about creating some dystopian future where people are involuntarily jabbed. These treatments could be game-changing for people with obesity. But they have to be part of a wider, holistic approach that includes lifestyle changes.”
Cost, potential supply issues and a need to understand the longer-term efficacy of these
drugs in controlling weight may mean insurers are reluctant to prescribe these at present but this could change and these jabs may become an important tool in improving the health and wellbeing of the nation’s workforce.
