In early 2023, Novo Nordisk, a Danish pharmaceutical company, proposed a scheme to improve obesity care in the UK by targeting individuals with their weight-loss drug. However, the plan, described as unethical by experts, did not materialize. Instead, a pilot study for a different drug, Mounjaro, by US pharmaceutical giant Lilly, is set to launch in Manchester to help people return to work by addressing obesity.
The government sees obesity as hindering economic growth due to the number of economically inactive individuals with long-term illnesses. The hope is that drugs like Wegovy or Mounjaro can aid in weight loss and job reentry, although their efficacy and side effects remain uncertain.
Critics argue that using weight-loss drugs to bring people back to work based on their economic value rather than their health needs is problematic. There is evidence that unemployment can lead to weight gain, exacerbating the cycle of poverty, but blaming individuals for their circumstances is not the solution. Unemployment and poverty are complex issues that cannot be solved by medical interventions alone.
The historical belief that unemployment and poverty are individual moral failings continues to shape policy today. Recent proposals, such as job coaches for mental health patients and potential sanctions for refusing treatment, highlight the moralistic approach to social issues. Confusing medical treatment with social solutions only serves to make it harder to improve lives in both areas. Unemployment is not a medical condition, and coercion is not the answer.
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