Study: Weight loss interventions could boost UAE economy by $51 billion
An accelerated rollout of innovative weight loss solutions could add up to $51 billion to the UAE’s economy by 2031, according to a report by Whiteshield and Eli Lilly. Bringing obesity under control would also deliver wide-ranging benefits across society, extending well beyond the healthcare system.
The study, which shifts the focus from narrow medical costs to a society-wide evaluation of public health, reveals that expanding modern obesity care could help 1.2 million adults overcome obesity over the next five years, dropping the national adult obesity prevalence from 33% to 18%.
The reality now is that around a third of residents in the UAE are overweight, more than double the global average. This problem takes a toll on individual health and on the medical systems that deal with increasing cases of obesity-related diseases like diabetes and some types of cancers.
Part of the solution to the obesity problem in the Middle East could include GLP-1 agonists – drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy – and a more holistic and preventative approach to healthcare that combines lifestyle modification, behavioral support, pharmacotherapy, and perhaps even surgical options, in some cases.
Macroeconomic and workforce boost
It is clear that a comprehensive plan to tackle obesity would have significant economic implications for the UAE. The report notes that national GDP growth could rise by an additional 1.5 percentage points above baseline projections, driving the total economy to an estimated $790 billion by 2031.
This additional value would be heavily driven by improvements in worker productivity. Healthier employees who transition out of obesity are projected to gain the equivalent of up to five additional working days per year due to reduced health-related absences. For that reason, average annual individual income could increase by up to $772 per person, expanding household purchasing power and boosting the economy across the country.
When it comes to obesity, real problems arise in the workplace when bad health is mixed with a sedentary lifestyle, chronic stress, and the many other issues that can come along of those incredibly damaging issues. People sit far too much: Some experts call sedentary lifestyles ‘the new smoking’. And stress can shave years off the average person’s life, especially when compounded with obesity.
Easing the burden on healthcare systems
In addition to driving economic growth, broad adoption of weight loss solutions could significantly alleviate financial pressure on the public sector. The report estimates that the UAE could avert up to $1.5 billion in cumulative healthcare costs by 2031.
By preventing obesity-related conditions such as type II diabetes and various forms of cardiovascular disease, the average life expectancy for the 1.2 million individuals directly affected could increase by 2.4 years, while adding nearly seven years of healthy life per person.
These major reductions in healthcare budgets can also work to redirect funds towards initiatives in preventative care and other programs that can be a huge benefit to the overall effectiveness of the national healthcare system. The Whiteshield report found that even with what the researchers consider a moderate intervention scenario, cumulative savings could be around $400 million by 2031.
Shifting societal and educational demographics
The societal benefits of earlier weight loss interventions extend into demographic sustainability, education, and national security. Improved reproductive health is projected to reduce infertility, leading to approximately 75,000 additional births by 2031, of which 24,000 would be Emirati citizens. In addition to that, more than 17,000 individuals are expected to enter the workforce, including over 9,000 Emirati women, reinforcing female labor participation.
In education, the report forecast more than 2,000 additional bachelor’s degree enrollments and a 1.4% reduction in university dropout rates as youth physical and mental well-being improves. Finally, enhanced fitness levels among young citizens would expand the national security talent pool, making more than 5,700 additional young Emirati males eligible for military and police service.
It is hard to overstate the negative impact obesity and related health problems can have on a society. The research clearly shows that getting these issues under control can have big benefits to society as a whole, not just the health sector. The positive impact will be felt in productivity, education, and even in national security.
“For too long, obesity studies have been limited to a narrow equation comparing the cost of intervention with the cost of treatment,” said Fadi Farra, CEO of Whiteshield. “This report reveals the true scale of the benefits generated by weight loss and obesity treatment in the UAE – not only in terms of improving individual health, but also through economic and social benefits and positive impacts on the future workforce.”
