Vaccination for weight loss could bring ‘significant’ economic benefits – health ministers
Here there could be “significant” economic benefits from prescribing thousands of people a vaccine for weight loss despite the main focus being on improving health, the health secretary said.
Steve Barclay told BBC Radio 4’s Today program that various health “challenges” linked to obesity, such as B. illnesses of the staff and diseases of the musculoskeletal system (MSK), have an impact on the labor market.
But he insisted that the main focus of a new £40million government pilot program to expand access to vaccines for weight loss is tackling obesity and its associated health problems, such as type 2 diabetes and cancer.
Asked if the government’s goal is to help millions of people lose weight and potentially allow many of them to return to work and forgo social benefits, he said: “Yes, we think that’s hugely important can be.” We know that obesity has very serious health consequences. The impact of obesity is very, very important to the health of the country.
“We also know that many people have tried to lose weight, found it difficult to do so, or even when they lost weight, had difficulty maintaining that weight. So it’s right that we’re looking at a number of innovations.”
From this pilot, the Chief Medical Officer, in conjunction with the Treasury Department’s chief economist, will explore what other benefits it could bring, because economically there could be significant benefits, but the focus of the pilots is on addressing health issues such as diabetes , such as mental health, such as cancer, which we know are linked to obesity
Mr Barclay said the “purpose of the pilot is to provide information on its potential scope and the possible further benefits”.
He added: “And you’re right when you point out that there could be potential economic benefits, because economic inactivity, mental health problems, MSK (musculoskeletal disorders) and various health problems related to obesity all have an obvious impact on.” the labor market.” of absenteeism.
“But these are not the criteria on which this pilot project is based; It is based on health criteria and that is what we focus on.
“But for this pilot, the chief medical officer will be looking at what other benefits it could bring, in conjunction with the chief economist at the Treasury Department, because economically there could be significant benefits, but the focus of the pilots is on tackling health conditions.” like diabetes, mental illnesses like cancer, which we know are linked to obesity.”
Mr Barclay said he wanted the NHS to be “on the lead” when it came to being able to administer the new weight loss drugs.
It’s up to date and we want to make sure the NHS is at the forefront. It’s a very exciting development, but it ties in with a number of other actions we’re taking
Speaking to GB News, he said the scheme was “part of a signal to suppliers that the NHS will be at the forefront of this”.
He added: “The funding is in place, we’ve had these discussions with manufacturers.
“It’s state of the art and we want to make sure the NHS is at the forefront. It’s a very exciting development, but it ties in with a number of other actions we’re taking.”
The Government wants to tackle ill health and the £6.5billion cost of obesity to the NHS by making GPs more accessible to weight loss treatments.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) earlier this year gave approval for use of the appetite suppressant Wegovy (semaglutide), but said it should only be available through specialized services, most of which are hospital-based.
The use of cutting-edge drugs to aid weight loss will be game-changing as it will help combat dangerous obesity-related health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes and cancer
The government said this would mean only about 35,000 people would have access to the treatment, while tens of thousands more could be eligible under criteria of a body mass index of at least 35 and a weight-related condition such as diabetes or high blood pressure.
The two-year pilot will now explore how approved medicines can be made more accessible to more people by expanding specialized weight-control services outside of hospitals.
Wegovy was approved for NHS use after research showed users could lose more than 10% of their body weight.
The drug suppresses appetite, making people feel full and therefore eating less food.
Similar injections like Ozempic and Mounjaro, which work in a similar way but are designed to treat diabetes, have not yet been specifically approved for weight loss by the NHS.
Announcing the pilot, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the latest drugs designed to help people lose weight “will mark a game changer by helping fight dangerous obesity-related health conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and cancer.”
Wegovy is a weight loss supplement popular with celebrities – Twitter and Tesla tycoon Elon Musk has explained that he uses it to stay in shape.
Professor Kamila Hawthorne, Chair of the Royal College of GPs, welcomed the move but said there must be “adequate resources and funding to accommodate the increased workload”.
She added that there must also be enough of the drug available “so as not to raise patient expectations, as there may be a significant number of people who would benefit.”
Elsewhere on Wednesday morning, Mr Barclay was asked on Times Radio whether disposable vapes should be banned and e-cigarettes only available by prescription to reduce their appeal to children.
He said the government is taking action, including shutting down free e-cigarette distribution to children, and is setting up new enforcement units to take action.
He added, “I think that’s a very valid point and a real concern you’re raising about the way some children are being targeted with e-cigarettes.”
“So let’s look at that. We’ve taken a number of steps recently, but we’ve just received a call for evidence to see what else can be done.”
Asked for comments from John Dunne, director of the UK Vaping Industry Association, who said the government needs to regulate product design, such as the packaging of e-cigarettes in the shape of a lollipop, Mr Barclay replied that it was being looked into.
He added: “You want to make sure that e-cigarettes are accessible to adults as well, because there are obvious benefits in terms of smoking cessation.” But that sounds like a pretty extreme example, so I really like the colleagues in the department can point to it and see what’s behind it.
“But the broader point you raised is very valid, which is that there are concerns about targeting children.”
https://www.standard.co.uk/business/business-news/weight-loss-jab-could-bring-significant-economic-benefits-health-secretary-b1086131.html Vaccination for weight loss could bring ‘significant’ economic benefits – health ministers
