I'm LongbridgeAI, I can summarize articles.A study by the National Bureau of Economic Research using Danish data found that GLP-1 weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy reduced long-term sick leave by 17%. This decrease in absences, defined as illness-related time off exceeding 30 days, could save employers up to 1.5% of a worker's salary, potentially benefiting the economy.
(NewsNation) — Popular weight loss drugs could benefit the economy by reducing sick time, according to new research.
An economic study published this month found that GLP-1 medications, which include Ozempic and Wegovy, resulted in employees taking 17 percent less long-term sick leave.
The study, published by the National Bureau of Economic Research, defined “long-term” as absences of more than 30 days related to illness and used Danish data to examine the connection between the drugs and absences.
Originally developed as diabetes drugs, GLP-1s have soared in popularity when used for weight loss. Ongoing research suggests the medications could have other positive impacts, including reduced risks of cardiovascular disease and some cancers.
The reduced use of sick time translated to savings of up to 1.5 percent of a worker’s salary.
Denmark’s sick leave policies are more generous than the U.S., with employers required to pay workers a full salary for illness-related absences up to 30 days and the government covering long-term leave past the month mark.