As GLP-1 medications transform obesity treatment worldwide, new multinational research finds that pairing GLP-1 therapy with regular structured exercise would improve long-term health outcomes, reduce downstream costs, and generate positive economic returns across multiple countries.
The white paper, From Weight Loss to Lasting Value: Structured Exercise and the Economics of GLP-1 Therapy, comes at a pivotal moment.
Across the world, governments, health systems, and other payers are weighing how to approach GLP-1 coverage, prescribing policies, reimbursement, and long-term treatment support.
At the same time, most countries face compounding challenges of rising obesity and related chronic disease, a persistent physical inactivity crisis, and escalating healthcare expenditure.
Against this background, the study examined whether structured exercise can improve the long-term clinical and economic value of GLP-1 treatment.
Developed by FTI Consulting’s Center for Healthcare Economics and Policy, it compares impacts of GLP-1 therapy as a standalone obesity treatment with GLP-1 therapy combined with exercise.
In partnership with a multinational coalition of fitness sector organizations, the analysis used a health-economic model adapted across Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Across all five countries studied, the analysis found that a combined approach supports improved long-term health outcomes, reduced healthcare costs, and produced positive economic returns.
Combining regular exercise with GLP-1 therapy is estimated to generate around:
- United States: US$120 billion in economic and societal value over 10 years and a 496% return on investment, rising to 1,572% and US$393 billion over 30 years.
- Australia: A$182 million in economic and societal value over 10 years and a 59% return on investment, rising to 457% and A$1.4 billion over 30 years.
- Canada: C$3.5 billion in economic and societal value over 10 years and a 105% return on investment, rising to 526% and C$17.9 billion over 30 years.
- New Zealand: NZ$51 million in economic and societal value over 10 years and a 27% return on investment, rising to 306% and NZ$592 million over 30 years.
- United Kingdom: £2.7 billion in economic and societal value over 10 years and a 164% return on investment, rising to 717% and £13 billion over 30 years.
The findings demonstrate that as GLP-1 use expands, exercise should play an essential role in helping patients and health systems maximize the long-term value from new generations of weight-loss drugs.
Consequently, the Health & Fitness Association, the HFA Foundation, AUSactive, Exercise New Zealand, Fitness Industry Council of Canada, and ukactive are calling on policymakers, payers, and healthcare systems to integrate structured exercise into GLP-1 treatment pathways. Specifically, to:
- Recognize structured exercise, including strength training, as an essential part of obesity care;
- Embed exercise support into GLP-1 care models;
- Build referral pathways between healthcare providers and qualified exercise professionals and fitness facilities;
- Support patient access to qualified exercise professionals and fitness facilities; and
- Measure outcomes beyond weight loss, including long-term health and economic value.
This call to action builds on a recent joint position statement signed by the participating fitness industry groups, the World Obesity Federation (WOF), and the World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI), which emphasized the urgency of ensuring physical activity and nutrition are central to systems supporting the global roll-out of obesity medications.
The full white paper, infographics, and media resources are available here.
Compared with medication alone, adding structured exercise to GLP-1 therapy can help patients:
- Preserve muscle during weight loss
- Maintain strength, mobility, and bone health
- Keep more weight off over time
- Reduce weight regain after stopping medication
- Lower the risk of costly health events later on
In the United States, adding structured exercise to GLP-1 therapy could help avoid 48,000 acute cardiovascular events and 160,000 joint replacements over 10 years.