The U.K. is exploring whether obesity drugs could be used to curb joblessness after signing a major investment deal with weight-loss treatment giant, Eli Lilly.

There’s a war brewing over blockbuster weight loss medications — and patients are now getting caught in the crossfire.

The company has committed £279 million ($364 million) to support national efforts aimed at reducing obesity, a critical health issue that also contributes to the UK’s high rates of economic inactivity.

The British government announced a multimillion dollar pharmaceutical partnership with Eli Lilly, including a trial that will study the impact of a weight-loss drug on work and productivity.

The FDA, in a stark reversal, on Friday said it would reconsider its decision to remove Eli Lilly’s tirzepatide from its shortage list.

Britain will study whether the use of Eli Lilly's weight loss drug can get people back into work and help tackle the high rate of long-term sickness that has become a major drag on the economy. Health minister Wes Streeting predicted the use of the drug - a competitor to Novo Nordisk's Ozempic - could help transform the health of the nation,

A study on the "real-world" effectiveness of weight loss drugs is set to measure the impact on the job prospects of people living with obesity in Greater Manchester. The five-year clinical trial was announced as part of a £279m plans by US pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly to work with the UK government to address public health challenges like obesity.

The UK plans to test US firm Eli Lilly' s weight loss jab Mounjaro to help the burden on the national healthcare system. Over a quarter of UK adults suffered from obesity in 2023 according to government data.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting said "widening waistbands" were placing a burden on the NHS and Ozempic or Mounjaro could be administered