Employee Weight Management: Proven Strategies for Employers With or Without GLP-1 Coverage

GLP-1s have been in the headlines for a while, but with even more expanding indications and usage, these medications are changing the conversation around employee weight management, obesity and weight-related chronic conditions. For many employers, these medications have also added a layer of complexity to their benefits strategies. Whether an organization covers GLP-1s or not, many employees are already taking them—and they require proper clinical support and ongoing care to optimize health outcomes.  

With an estimated 40% of U.S. adults living with obesity, it’s no secret that weight-related chronic conditions continue to be a growing concern for employers. And the price tag for businesses? An estimated $425.5 billion annually. Increasing health care costs, lost productivity, and impact on employee well-being make having a sustainable, flexible obesity management plan in the workplace more important than ever. 

Breaking down the impact of obesity on organizations and their people: 

• Increased chronic condition risk 
  Obesity increases the risk of numerous chronic conditions, including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Obesity is also linked to an elevated risk of stroke, metabolic disease, and other chronic conditions. 

• Decreased productivity 
  Absenteeism and presenteeism associated with obesity contribute to significant losses in productivity, with an estimated financial impact between $13 – $28 billion each year. 

• Increased health care costs 
  Obesity-related health care costs are estimated at $146.5 billion annually and are expected to rise due to increasing prescription prices and GLP-1 use. 

• Declined mental well-being  
  Obesity-related health concerns not only affect physical health, but also contribute to increased stress, anxiety, depression, and a decrease in overall well-being. 

Given this broad impact of obesity, many organizations are looking for strategies that go beyond short-term fixes and address sustainable health outcomes.

Why every employer needs a GLP-1 strategy woven into their employee weight management

With rising demand and many employees paying out of pocket for GLP-1 medications, organizations need a clear weight-loss medication strategy, and personalized and ongoing support rooted in expert obesity care is essential whether your organization covers these medications or not. 

Behavioral and lifestyle support impacts outcomes 

GLP-1s are most successful when combined with behavioral and lifestyle change support. Sustainable weight loss depends on helping individuals build healthy habits and maintain progress over time.  

Inadequate support may contribute to side effects 

Using GLP-1s without proper behavioral guidance can increase the likelihood of side effects and heighten the risk of weight regain if treatment is stopped. Comprehensive support plays a critical role in mitigating these risks. 

Lack of expertise may lead to treatment discontinuation  

GLP-1 discontinuation rates are high. More than one in three people stop treatment within three months, and nearly half stop within six. A leading cause? Ineffective prescribing and lack of expert guidance. Support from trained obesity medicine specialists improves adherence, maximizes outcomes, and reduces unnecessary health care costs due to complications or relapse. 

The impact of providing GLP-1 support 

Offering the proper GLP-1 support is key to medication adherence, mitigating risk, and delivering sustainable health outcomes. With appropriate follow-up and ongoing care, organizations can not only improve the health of their workforce but lower health care costs and increase productivity. 

A continuum of care across the acuity spectrum for employee weight management 

To optimize health outcomes, employers can take a full-spectrum approach to obesity and weight-related chronic disease. Key points to consider: 

For all organizations and all populations: Having a proven behavioral and lifestyle change program that treats the root cause of chronic conditions is key to prevent and reduce costs and improve whole-person health.  

For organizations with restricted GLP-1 coverage or high claims costs for weight-related conditions: Having a solution with expert clinical support, nutrition counseling, and care pathways for chronic disease prevention is critical for organizations that have a population that self-pays for GLP-1s. 

• Provide expert clinical support for chronic disease prevention and management  
  With ongoing support from weight management experts, employers can optimize health outcomes and employee well-being. Offering both preventive and therapeutic interventions for the most prevalent (and costly) metabolic health conditions is key. 
   

• Offer nutrition counseling  
  Employers can optimize the long-term impact of GLP-1s with solutions that include personalized nutrition plans created by registered dietitians. Consider offering easily accessible support like webinars and other online resources on topics like healthy eating habits and meal prep.  
   

• Provide condition-specific tracks 
  Having condition-specific tracks for metabolic health conditions like diabetes and musculoskeletal issues is key to addressing the most common and costly weight-related chronic conditions. In a recent Wondr Health survey, we asked participants what would be most helpful to manage a weight-related chronic condition, and condition-specific support ranked among the top resources. 

For organizations with broad GLP-1 coverage: Clinical obesity treatment from a multidisciplinary team of providers who offer tailored content, prescribing, and medication management using a stepped approach is important. 

• Offer tailored, digital content for medication adherence, improved movement, and emotional health 
  As part of an ongoing care program, personalized digital content, such as tools for managing common side effects of medication, tips for incorporating more movement into everyday life, and resources for managing stress, can help boost engagement and improve long-term outcomes.  
   

• Ensure the right patients get the right medication with tailored prescribing and step therapy  
  Ensure prescriptions are managed by weight-loss experts who will support your people with appropriate follow up and continuity of care. This includes exploring less expensive medication options, which helps to reduce the overall cost of care. 
   

• Receive tracking and reporting on outcomes 
  Gauge how your population is progressing under your obesity and weight-loss medication benefits and identify areas for improvement. 

Whether GLP-1s are part of a benefits package or not, addressing obesity is essential to improving employee health and productivity, and protecting your bottom line. To learn how Wondr Health helps employers deliver scalable, weight-management solutions that support all employees and benefits design, contact us today.