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Not only will Ozempic make you skinny...
experts say it could make you rich, too READ MORE: What they don't tell you about Ozempic By CASSIDY MORRISON SENIOR HEALTH REPORTER FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 12:44 BST, 5 April 2025 | Updated: 12:44 BST, 5 April 2025 e-mail View comments Weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy have helped millions of Americans lose hundreds of pounds. And now, new research shows they could also help pad their bank accounts.
Obesity’s impact on health is well known, with a 25 to 60 percent increased risk of heart attack, a 30 to 53 percent increased risk of diabetes, and a 64 percent higher risk of stroke. However, it also carries a massive economic toll , costing the economy around $1.4trillion annually in healthcare costs, lost productivity and absenteeism from work, premature deaths, and disability.
Research has shown that losing weight saves the individual money as well, not just the country. A study by researchers at Johns Hopkins University found when a 20-year-old goes from being obese to just overweight, they save on average $17,655 in future healthcare expenses. Around 15 million Americans have used Ozempic or a similar medication to lose weight since the class of drugs burst onto the scene about five years ago.
But millions who would benefit from the costly drugs initially designed to treat diabetes aren’t getting them. Insurance typically pays only in instances in which the drugs are deemed medically necessary – when a patient is diabetic or has prediabetes. But researchers at the University of Southern California reported that expanding access to every obese American makes financial sense, estimating it could generate $10trillion per year for the country through increasing productivity and the number of years a person can work, reducing healthcare costs, improving people’s general well-being, and adding to their lifespan.
USC researchers found expanding obesity treatment access could generate $10 trillion by boosting productivity, cutting healthcare costs, and extending lifespans Dr Alison Sexton Ward, an economist and health policy expert at USC’s Schaeffer Institute, said: ‘While the costs of anti-obesity medications have grabbed headlines, our analysis shows why it’s important to consider the lifetime value of treatment. ‘Expanding access will prevent or delay obesity-related comorbidities, resulting in improved quality and quantity of life for many Americans.’ USC researchers found it’s more than just diabetic and obese patients who would benefit (and thus boost the economy) if access were expanded.
Younger, healthier adults — those with a lower diabetes risk score or a moderate BMI (30–39) — who qualified for and started the medications between ages 25 and 35 saw the greatest benefits, gaining an average of 1.8 years in life expectancy. The researchers also calculated how much money people in certain age groups with different diabetes and obesity risks would generate if given weight-loss drugs like Ozempic.
Read More EXCLUSIVE I lost 150 pounds on Ozempic. I'm also losing my memory, sight, speech, hearing..
. and I can't walk For example, one estimate shows that if a 25- to 34-year-old with obesity is given a weight-loss drug, it will generate about $208,000 per year through increased productivity, reduction in healthcare costs, improvement in their general well-being, and addition to their lifespan. For a 35- to 44-year-old with a high risk of diabetes, taking a weight-loss drug would generate $115,000 per year.
Dr Dana Goldman, co-author of the report and founding director of the USC Schaeffer Institute for Public Policy & Government Service, said: ‘Expanding access to anti-obesity medication is probably the single most effective policy to improve Americans’ public health.’ Medications used by millions to lose weight, including Ozempic, Wegovy, Zepbound, and Mounjaro, cost more than $1,200 per month without insurance coverage. An estimated 40 to 60 percent of coverage claims for one of these medicines are denied, though a growing number of employers are beginning to include coverage for them in their worker insurance plans.
The UCS analysis comes as the federal government considers a proposal to expand Medicare and Medicaid coverage for seniors and the poor, respectively, for anti-obesity medicines. This would likely encourage private insurers to follow suit. Researchers at the Schaeffer Center used the Future Adult Model to project the long-term health and economic impacts of anti-obesity medications for eligible adults 25 and up without diabetes.
One estimate shows that if a 25- to 34-year-old with obesity is given a weight-loss drug, it will generate about $208,000 per year (illustrated in graph on the right) The analysis accounted for age, body mass index (BMI), and diabetes risk, assuming stable drug prices until generics enter the market in 2032 at about half the price. Researchers calculated the 'social value' of expanding access to the medications, which involved quantifying the number of extra years a person would be alive and in good health, the prevention of chronic diseases, and the ability to work and contribute to society. They found that investing in preventing obesity and diabetes earlier in life had a far greater payoff than treating an older person.
For instance, a healthy 25-year-old with obesity and a low to moderate diabetes risk treated with Ozempic or a similar medication gains more healthy years over their lifetime compared to a 35-year-old with the same risks simply due to the fact that treatment started earlier. Early intervention prevents severe and expensive health issues down the road, which saves money for both the 25-year-old and society as a whole. Your browser does not support iframes.
An estimated 38 million Americans have diabetes, a disease that costs about $412.9 billion to treat in the form of direct costs to the patient of doctor visits, hospitalizations, and insulin, as well as indirect costs such as missed work days, worsening job performance, and premature death. In addition to treating type 2 diabetes and obesity, this class of drugs has also been shown to lower the risk of worsening heart failure and heart disease, which costs the US about $252 billion each year.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death globally and affects roughly 48 percent of American adults. That figure is expected to rise over time, with current projections showing 61 percent of Americans will have it by 2050. Dr Darius Lakdawalla, chief scientific officer at the Schaeffer Center, said: ‘Insurers often limit coverage of anti-obesity medications to sicker patients, such as those with prediabetes or diabetes, but our analysis shows they are likely missing out on a chance to prevent worse and more costly outcomes through early treatment.
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