The government could be set to introduce weight loss jabs to those out of work to help them get back on their feet and into employment.
According to health secretary Wes Streeting, who cited ‘widening waistbands’ as a growing issue in the UK’s job market, new weight-loss medicine could be given to people to get them back in shape to pursue employment, among other benefits.
Revolutionary medicines such as Ozempic or Mounjaro (which are FDA approved for diabetes, not weight loss) are taking the pharmaceutical market by storm and have been suggested as potential fixes to the country’s economy and the NHS being overworked.
Weight loss medicines could be the solution for the UK’s economy, according to the health secretary (Getty Stock Photo)
The 41-year-old government official announced the plans via the Telegraph, following news that the government had announced a £279 million investment from the world’s largest pharmaceutical company, Lilly.
Streeting wrote for the publication: “Our widening waistbands are also placing significant burden on our health service, costing the NHS £11 billion a year – even more than smoking. And it’s holding back our economy.
“Illness caused by obesity causes people to take an extra four sick days a year on average, while many others are forced out of work altogether.”
The announcement, which took place at an international investment summit hosted by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, also included real-life trials of weight loss jabs and how they impact unemployment levels.
An official study will be carried out in Greater Manchester by Health Innovation Manchester with Lilly, and it will determine if the medicines actually do impact unemployment and the NHS.
It is believed that obesity is a contributing factor to the UK’s suffering job market (Getty Stock Photo)
The health secretary added that this will ‘open the NHS up’ to focus ‘more closely with life sciences’, as they work to find effective treatments and with patients benefitting from these changes.
Labelling the potential benefits as ‘monumental’ in tackling obesity, he added: “For many people, these weight-loss jabs will be life-changing, help them get back to work, and ease the demands on our NHS.”
Streeting added that it wouldn’t solely be up to them though, as the individual would have to take ‘healthy living more seriously’.
A specialist in obesity policy and researcher at the MRC epidemiology unit at the University of Cambridge, Dr Dolly van Tulleken, explained to BBC Radio 4’s Today show that there are issues to tackle when it comes to the approach, including ethical and financial considerations.
She explained: “Such as looking at people, or measuring people based on their potential economic value, rather than primarily based on their needs and their health needs.
“It’s incredibly important that people in the UK access healthcare based on their health need rather than their potential economic value.”
Streeting says it is not solely up to medicine to save those that are overweight and unemployed, as they must make the effort too (Getty Stock Photo)
It was also highlighted that the government wouldn’t be able to cover the population which qualifies for this treatment, as the 49,000 people treated by the specialist weight management services is a far cry from the millions that could be given the medication.
She sided with Streeting though, further saying: “We know from across so much research… how popular these interventions are. People want the government to act. They want to live in a healthy environment; he is absolutely on the side of public.”
Former Conservative health minister Lord Bethall admitted that they ‘got it wrong’ in the past when it came to obesity, saying: “We misread the public mood; people want help from government – the ‘nanny state’ thing was a distraction.
Dogs really do seem to live their best lives. No matter how naughty they’ve been, one flash of those puppy-dog eyes, and we’re at their disposal.
And one thing we’re particularly jealous of is their endless nap schedule, whether they’re refusing to get out of your bed for walkies or hogging the sofa.
So, it’s only natural that people have been losing their minds after learning that a ‘ridiculously cosy’ human-sized dog bed now exists.
The game-changing product has received glowing five-star reviews online with dog owners hailing the product for enabling them to spend more quality time with their pooch.
In fact, one happy customer now understands why their dog loves getting into bed so much. They wrote, “It’s so ridiculous, it’s brilliant! I’m surprised by how comfy this bed is. I understand why my dog loves her bed so much now.”
Sleepy People
Another agreed, adding: “So big I can stretch out and even snuggle with my dog. Great for relaxing while watching TV.”
A third admitted that they were apprehensive at first but now can’t wait to get cosy. “Not something I thought I would need until I tried it,” they wrote. “It’s perfect for me to spend time with my dog.”
And it’s not only gone down well with pet lovers. Adults are buying the human-sized dog bed for sleepovers, movie nights, and some much-needed downtime after work.
Sleepy People
One very happy customer wrote, “I love my Snuggle Pod! It’s so good for sleepovers with my friends and chilling out on my own and watching movies.”
Another simply declared: “I don’t need a sofa anymore.” You heard it here first.
What is the Silentnight Snuggle Pod?
The viral Silentnight Snuggle Pod is essentially a supersized pet bed designed to ‘take comfort to the next level’. And judging by reviews, it delivers. The Snuggle Pod is built on a high-grade mattress for orthopaedic support with bolster pillows on the sides to support your neck and shoulders – ideal when watching Netflix.
Sleepy People
It’s also waterproof, easy to wash, and has a non-slip base for wooden floors. The grey won’t look too offensive in the living room either.
How much does the Silentnight Snuggle Pod cost?
Exclusively available to buy at Sleepy People, the Silentnight Snuggle Pod is available for 20% off. If you’re quick, you can get in on the hype for a limited introductory offer of £99 – down from £125.
At present, there are various minimum wage rates for the different age groups. For example, 18-20-year-olds must earn a minimum of £8.60 an hour, while those over 21 must earn at least £11.44 per hour.
In potential new changes, however, the age factor could be eliminated and instead a new single ‘genuine’ living wage announced.
The move would impact millions of Brits, who could be in line for a pay rise if the plan goes ahead.
Millions of Brits could be in line to get a pay rise (Getty Stock Photo)
In a press release, Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: “For too long working people have faced the worst of the cost-of-living crisis, but this Government is taking bold action to address it and make work pay.
“The new remit to the LPC is the first of many vital steps we will take to support more people to stay in work and improve living standards.
“Our focus remains on putting more money in working people’s pockets and boosting economic growth.”
The change could bridge the gap between the minimum wage for 18-20-year-olds and the living wage for over-21s in the UK. Essentially, it would create a new rate for all adults.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: “Economic growth is our first mission, and we will do everything we can to ensure good jobs for working people. But for too long, too many people are out of work or not earning enough.
“The new LPC remit is an important first step in getting people into work and keeping people in work, essential for growing our economy, rebuilding Britain and making everyone better off.”
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It could narrow the gap between the minimum wage and the living wage (Getty Stock Photo)
The Trades Union Congress has also spoken out on the potential change, calling it ‘significant first steps’ towards a ‘real living wage’.
“These are significant first steps towards making the minimum wage a real living wage and will make a difference to millions,” said TUC general secretary Paul Nowak.
“We welcome the government’s decision to ask the Low Pay Commission to be more ambitious next year and into the future.
“We also support the government’s commitment to ending discriminatory age bands for minimum wage workers.
“Young people face the same cost-of-living pressures as other adult workers and will welcome their pay being brought into line.”
The proposed changes are said to be the ‘first steps’ in the government’s mission to grow the economy and improve living standards.
It’s important to note that the minimum wage for those under 18 will not be changing – so children aged 16 and 17 will still be on the same hourly minimum rate of £6.40.
But whether your request will be accepted or not cannot be guaranteed, the Government has warned.
Under the new plans being brought forward by Sir Keir Starmer’s government, UK employees are set to be given the right to ask to work their weekly contracted hours over a four day period as opposed to the standard five.
A spokesperson for the Department for Business and Trade told the BBC that they hoped the four-day working week concept would ‘increase productivity’ across the country’s industries, as well as aid in getting more people ‘back in to work’.
The PA news agency also reports that any plan to open up ‘compressed hours’ to more workers would not result in bank holiday-style weekends each week.
Instead, employees would usually need to work their contracted hours – even if they choose to over fewer days.
A Whitehall spokesperson said: “We have no plans to impose a four-day working week on employers or employees. Any changes to employment legislation will be consulted on, working in partnership with business.
“Our Make Work Pay plan is designed around increasing productivity and creating the right conditions for businesses to support sustained economic growth.”
Keir Starmer’s Labour government is behind the plans (Ian Vogler – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
They added: “Many employers already provide good, family-friendly conditions for their workers because they know that doing so improves morale and retention.
“We are working in close partnership with business and civil society to find the balance between improving workers’ rights while supporting the brilliant businesses that pay people’s wages.”
More details about this are expected within the Government’s first 100 days in office.
It comes after Labour promised it would ban zero-hour contracts in a document titled ‘Labour’s Plan To Make Work Pay’; released just two days after the 2024 general election was called by former PM, Rishi Sunak.
Instead of zero-hour contracts, Labour has said they should be replaced them with documents which reflect the number of hours a person regularly works.
Following on from the mooted four day working week plans, Conservative shadow business secretary Kevin Hollinrake said that businesses were ‘petrified’ about the plans.
He said: “Despite warning after warning from industry, [Deputy Prime Minister] Angela Rayner is pressing ahead with her French-style union laws that will make doing business more expensive in the UK.”
You would have to work your contracted hours over the four day period (Getty Stock Images)
Meanwhile, Labour’s education minister, Baroness Jacqui Smith, dismissed reports that businesses would be forced to accept employee’s demands for a four-day week, telling LBC Radio: “We think that flexible working is actually good for productivity.
“So perhaps instead of working eight hours a day for five days, you work 10 hours a day for four days. You’re still doing the same amount of work, but perhaps you’re doing it in a way that enables you, for example, to need less childcare, to spend more time with your family, to do other things, that encourages more people into the workplace, which is an enormous part of that growth mission.”
On 29 January this year, then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced via LADbible that the government would introduce new measures to crack down on the worrying rise of young people and children who vape.
It consists of a ban on disposable vapes altogether across the UK, and a restriction on certain flavours of vapes from being sold that have been marketed specifically at children.
Manufacturers must also produce plainer, less visual packaging.
The government introduced fines for shops selling vapes to children, and they will have the power to change how vapes are displayed in shops as well.
These measures were introduced after alarming figures showed the sharp increase in children vaping, as nine percent of 11 to 15-year-olds now use vapes, while the number of those vaping between 11 and 17 years old has multiplied by nine in the past two years.
Following Labour’s landslide win in the UK’s general election on 4 July, the government has chosen to revive Sunak’s plans to phase out smoking and impose the aforementioned restrictions.
Restrictions on tobacco
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill also progressively increases the age at which people can buy tobacco so that it will eventually be illegal for people to do so, meaning anyone born after 1 January 2009 will never legally be allowed to smoke.
With the support of health campaigners and charities, the bill – which was shelved once the election was called – is set to go ahead as planned.
Colourful vapes like these won’t be around for much longer. (Getty Stock Photo)
Certain vape flavours to be banned
Certain flavours of vapes will not be sold in shops across the country soon, with the likes of bubble gum and candy floss set to be some of the first out the door.
Research shows that children prefer these sweeter flavours compared to other ones like menthol.
Tobacco pouches will also fall under the same restrictions as vapes, with packaging and display of the products under the government’s control.
King Charles III’s speech on Wednesday (17 July) morning outlined how the ‘Bill will provide ministers with powers to regulate the flavours, packaging and display of vapes and other nicotine products.’
More power will be given to Trading Standards officials to fine retailers who sell vapes and tobacco to those under the legal age of 18.
Though the long-term health effects of vaping are unknown, smoking is widely known as the biggest cause of cancer in the world, and is linked to at least 16 types of the deadly disease.
Smoking and vaping will be illegal for the next generation. (Getty Stock Photo)
Vaping bill backed by medical and health experts
Professor Sir Chris Whitty, Chief medical officer for England, stated: “A smoke-free country would prevent disease, disability and premature deaths long into the future.
“Smoking causes harm across the life course from stillbirth, asthma in children, cancer, strokes, heart attacks and dementia.
“Most smokers wish they had never started. Secondhand smoke causes harm, including to vulnerable people.
“The Bill to create a smoke-free country in the King’s Speech would be a major step forward in public health,” he concluded.
