Weight loss drugs slash sick days and boost the economy too!
Peter Paumgardhen | Last update: 4th December 2025
New research shows that people taking GLP-1 weight loss drugs are calling in sick far less often – suggesting these jabs could help not just individual health, but the NHS and the economy too.
What’s the study?
A new report by health tech provider Aide Health, found that users of weight loss drugs took 50% fewer sick days than before. That means people using medications like Mounjaro or Wegovy weren’t just losing weight – they were working more, living more, and spending less time ill.
Earlier in 2024, a similar study by Oviva reported a 33% reduction in sick days among weight loss drug users in the UK workforce. This latest data suggests that benefit is growing as the drugs become more widely used and better understood.
Why it matters
We’ve said it before: this isn’t just about looks or weight on the scale. It’s about real health. SlimrChat members often talk about how losing weight reduced their joint pain, fatigue, breathlessness, and even medication needs.
“My knees hurt, my back hurt, I was breathless going up the stairs and felt like a 92-year-old,” said Vivienne Joy. “After Mounjaro, it was like night and day.”
“I was about to be on compression socks for life. Now I run after my kids in the park,” added Kelsey Smith
SlimrChat’s take
Critics still label weight loss drugs as the ‘easy way out’, but they’re missing the bigger picture.
GLP-1 weight loss drugs aren’t just helping people drop pounds. They’re helping them:
- Show up to work
- Feel more confident
- Stay off long-term sick leave
- Reduce reliance on other medications
It’s a win for patients, but also for businesses, families, and the NHS.
Read: More about how weight loss drugs work