Unemployed people living with obesity could be given new weight loss jabs to help them get back into work, the health secretary has said. Wes Streeting suggested the latest generation of medicines including Ozempic and Mounjaro could be "lifechanging" for individuals and would ease pressure on the NHS.

Unemployed people could be given new weight loss jabs to help them get back into work. Health Secretary Wes Streeting said ‘widening waistbands’ were placing a burden on the NHS. He went on: ‘Our widening waistbands are also placing significant burden on our health service,

New weight loss jabs could be given to unemployed people to help them get back into work, Sir Keir Starmer has said. The Prime Minister said that the drugs would be “very important” for reducing obesity rates and helping to reduce the burden on the NHS.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting said ‘widening waistbands’ were placing a burden on the NHS and leaving people out of work in the long-term.

His comments came after Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the jabs could be given to help people get back into work. Some injections are already prescribed on the NHS for the treatment of obesity, and also for people with diabetes.

The new trial aims to gather evidence of the effects of the drug tirzepatide – sold by pharmaceutical company Lily under brand name Mounjaro

Health Secretary Wes Streeting said "widening waistbands" were placing a burden on the NHS and Ozempic or Mounjaro could be administered