Private health insurer Vitality has announced it will start offering weight loss drugs Wegovy and Mounjaro, which are only available at special clinics, for those with a BMI of over 35
Fat office staff will be able to get weight loss jabs on their work medical insurance for the first time.
Some people manage to shed the pounds without any fancy help, like one man who lost 13st in a year. Meanwhile, in the British Army, weight loss drugs are being used to help troops get fit.
Now, private health insurer Vitality, which covers 1.9 million workers, has announced it will start offering Wegovy and Mounjaro which are only available at specialist NHS clinics. Those with a BMI of over 35 will be eligible for the drugs at a discounted fee.
The coverage, available for up to 12 months, includes access to coaching with dieticians to support weight loss efforts. Dr Katie Tryon, chief commercial director at Vitality, said the move could improve productivity and save businesses cash.
She said: “Over the last 10 years, we have seen obesity increasingly becoming an issue within the working environment. For businesses, obesity has a huge impact on productivity, as well as recruitment and retention of staff.
“Over the past year, the potential of weight-management medications has become more evident. While they are not a universal solution, they can be a useful tool in improving health.
“We are proud to be the first UK insurer to be offering this as part of our health insurance.”
She added the jabs have “amazing results” and could reduce the number of workers suffering obesity-related illnesses such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
The move could see other insurers providing weight-loss drugs as part of workplace schemes. bout 15 million adults in Britain have a body mass index over 30, the threshold for obesity.
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