Proposals to give weight-loss vaccinations to unemployed people with obesity could be “very important” for our economy and health, the Prime Minister has told the BBC.

Sir Keir Starmer said he acknowledged more money was needed for the NHS, and The government also needs to “think differently” to reduce pressure on the health system.

His comments came after Health Minister Wes Streeting said the vaccinations could be administered to help people return to work.

Some injections are already prescribed on the NHS to treat obesity and also for people with diabetes.

Sir Keir told the BBC the vaccinations would be “very helpful” for people who want and need to lose weight.

“(The drug is) very important for our NHS because yes, we need more money for the NHS, but we also need to think differently.”

Streeting suggested the drugs could be “life-changing” for individuals.

In one Opinion piece for the TelegraphThe Minister of Health wrote: “The expansion of waist bands also places a significant burden on our healthcare system.”

“The long-term benefits of these drugs could be hugely important to our approach to combating obesity.”

The latest NHS England health survey shows that in 2022, 29% of adults in England were obese and 64% were considered overweight.

Obesity-related diseases cost the NHS £11 billion a year, Streeting said.

Obesity is also linked to the development of type 2 diabetes, with the NHS spending around £10 billion a year – 9% of its budget – on caring for people with diabetes.

His words came as the government announced a five-year trial of the weight loss drug Mounjaro in Greater Manchester.

Mounjaro's maker, Lilly – the world's largest pharmaceutical company – is investing £279 million as part of the trial, which will examine whether use of the drug will reduce unemployment and NHS consumption.

NHS officials have suggested that the drug's rollout across England will need to be staggered due to expected high demand.

Nearly 250,000 people are expected to receive the Mounjaro vaccination over the next three years, officials said.

The health minister added that the weight loss injections could also benefit the economy by reducing the number of sick days caused by obesity.

“Obesity-related illness results in people taking an average of four extra sick days per year, while forcing many others to give up work altogether,” he said.

However, individuals must remain responsible for “taking healthy living more seriously” as “the NHS cannot always be expected to take responsibility for unhealthy lifestyles”, he said.

“As a country, we eat more, eat less healthily and exercise less. The cost to the individual is obvious: a less healthy and shorter life.”

Obesity policy specialist Dolly van Tulleken said the idea was unrealistic as the population eligible for the plan was “in the millions” and specialist weight management services could only treat 49,000 people a year.

She said the policy idea of ​​providing incentives for overweight unemployed people was not new and had previously been received “very badly”.

Speaking to the Today show, she said the plans consider people based on “their potential economic value” rather than their needs.

Some weight loss medications are already prescribed on the NHS. The appetite-suppressing drug is sold under the brand names Wegovy (used to treat obesity) and Ozempic (used to treat diabetes).

Delivered in the form of an injection, it mimics the hormone GLP-1, making people feel full and less hungry.

Experts have warned in the past that the drug is not a quick fix or replacement for healthy diet and exercise and should only be administered under medical supervision.

Former health secretary Lord Bethell said the NHS must “take concrete steps to focus on prevention so that we do not simply medicalise the national problem of obesity”.

Amanda Pritchard, the chief executive of the NHS, said the drugs would “fundamentally transform” public health and could reduce the risk of diabetes, heart attacks and strokes.

David A. Ricks, Chairman and CEO of Lilly, said: “We welcome this opportunity to work with the UK government to combat and prevent disease and accelerate innovation to advance healthcare delivery models.”