GLP-1 drugs could reduce long-term sick leave: Study

Healthcare GLP-1 drugs could reduce long-term sick leave: Study Comments: by Steph Whiteside - 07/26/26 9:32 AM ET Comments: Link copied by Steph Whiteside - 07/26/26 9:32 AM ET Comments: Link copied

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(NewsNation) — Popular weight loss drugs could benefit the economy by reducing sick time, according to new research.

An economic study found that GLP-1 medications, which include Ozempic and Wegovy, resulted in employees taking 17 percent less long-term sick time.

“The reduction in long-term sickness leave is consistent with improvements in underlying cardiometabolic health,” according to the study.

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.

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