The New Year brings new resolutions, including weight loss, which may be achieved with the help of popular GLP-1 weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. While these medications can aid individuals in losing weight, their effects extend beyond personal health to have a significant impact on workforce productivity.
A recent analysis by Citi and Goldman Sachs found that widespread use of GLP-1 therapies could increase labor productivity by up to 0.5 percent. This boost would be substantial for the US economy and public health. Communities with high obesity rates, particularly those in low-income areas, are likely to benefit from increased access to these medications.
One paradoxical aspect of modern life is that individuals in economically disadvantaged communities have a higher likelihood of being overweight or obese. This situation stems from our evolutionary past, where high-calorie and high-sugar foods were prized due to scarcity. However, with abundant food options, chasing calories has become an unhealthy behavior.
Obesity is associated with numerous health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, kidney failure, cancer, and dementia. As obesity increases life expectancy shortens lifespan while draining healthcare systems. Traditional anti-obesity efforts focus on behavior modification, such as diet and exercise, but these programs have shown limited success, particularly for those prone to yo-yo dieting.
GLP-1 therapies target the physical mechanisms of overeating, providing obese individuals with a way to lose weight and maintain it. By reducing obesity-driven illnesses, worker productivity is expected to increase significantly. This boost can be especially beneficial in regions where employment levels are persistently low and obesity rates are high.
To address this issue effectively, community-based initiatives incorporating diet, exercise, and access to GLP-1 medications could benefit from voluntary wellness programs. Such a program would likely require additional resources, but philanthropic efforts may help fill the gap as prices of these treatments decline over time.
By making these medications widely accessible, we can hope for healthier communities with workforces capable of gaining and keeping jobs. As people consider weight loss this season, let’s focus on transforming our workforce through community-based initiatives.
Source: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/ozempic-community-glp-1-wegovy-weight-loss-obesity-workforce