Employers urged to address stigma and rethink benefits for workers with obesity
A study of 170,000 patient records found that US adults with diabetes who used GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy, Ozempic, and Zepbound showed a slightly lower risk of developing obesity-related cancers.
According to The Canadian Press, the reduced risk was compared to those who took other diabetes medications not linked to weight loss.
The analysis, led by Lucas Mavromatis at New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine and funded by the National Institutes of Health, examined data from 43 US health systems.
Researchers compared two matched groups of people with obesity and diabetes: one taking GLP-1 receptor agonists and the other using medications like sitagliptin.
After four years, the GLP-1 group had a 7 percent lower risk of developing an obesity-related cancer and an 8 percent lower risk of death from any cause.
The GLP-1 group recorded 2,501 new cancer cases, while the other group had 2,671. The difference was statistically evident in women, but not in men, and the study could not explain this disparity.
Mavromatis suggested that drug concentration levels, metabolism, hormones or weight loss might be factors.
The findings, which were released by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, will be discussed at its annual meeting in Chicago.
While the results suggest a potential connection, researchers clarified the observational study does not establish causation.
“This is a call to scientists and clinical investigators to do more work in this area to really prove or disprove this,” said Ernest Hawk of MD Anderson Cancer Center, who was not involved in the study.
GLP-1 receptor agonists, originally designed to treat diabetes and now also approved for obesity treatment, regulate appetite by mimicking gut and brain hormones.
However, they do not work for everyone and can cause side effects such as nausea and stomach pain.
As interest in GLP-1 drugs grows, some voices in Canada are calling for systemic changes in how obesity is addressed, particularly in workplace settings.
In a March article in Benefits and Pension Monitor, Ian Patton of Obesity Canada described the shift in understanding obesity as a chronic disease rather than a lifestyle issue.
Patton, who serves as the director of advocacy and public engagement, noted how workplaces are starting to explore supportive environments for employees living with obesity.
He emphasised that simple awareness around language can reduce bias: “While a lot of times it's unintended, there's a lot of weight bias and stigma that people living with obesity experience.”
He encouraged employers to rethink how they speak about obesity and structure policies accordingly.
“How we're communicating with them is really the foundation of making a more accommodating and accessible environment for people to work,” Patton added.
He raised specific questions about physical workplace infrastructure, such as whether seating or bathroom facilities accommodate larger bodies, and underlined that office culture also plays a significant role.
“Comments about weight or assumptions about a person’s fitness level can contribute to a hostile work environment,” he said.
Employee benefits are another area where Patton identified gaps.
He said most benefit plans do not treat obesity with the same seriousness as other chronic diseases, often omitting coverage for medications.
“The clinical practice guidelines outline three evidence-based pillars to obesity management and treatment. That includes bariatric surgery, the psychological intervention, and then the medications,” Patton stated.
He added that although bariatric surgery is typically covered under provincial health plans, it is not suitable for everyone. And even though GLP-1 medications are proving effective, access remains limited.
“They’re effective lifesaving treatments and they’re very useful for some people, but they aren't a magic solution for everyone living with obesity,” said Patton.
Patton also pointed out that side effects have led some people to stop taking the medication, adding, “It's not like every individual in Canada living with obesity is going to be a good candidate for those medications.”
He noted that unlike diabetes, obesity still lacks broad benefits coverage. “What we need to do is look at how we're supporting individuals for other chronic diseases and recognize the value,” he said.
Patton cited the cost effectiveness of early intervention, saying obesity is an upstream condition that can lead to multiple downstream health issues.
Patton warned that while gym memberships and wellness incentives may help promote health, they should not replace access to proper medical treatments.
“We can’t treat that as a chronic disease solution,” he said.
“Obesity is a chronic disease; that's not something that's debatable anymore,” Patton said. “Changing how we're talking about that in the workplace is going to make a big, big difference.”
