From Weight Loss to Lasting Value: Structured Exercise and the Economics of GLP-1 Therapy

This white paper is complimentary.

GLP-1 medications are reshaping obesity care and creating new opportunities to improve long-term health outcomes. But weight loss alone is not the full measure of success. As use of these medications grows, policymakers, payers, healthcare providers, and patients face an important question: what helps ensure that the benefits of GLP-1 therapy are sustained over time?

This first-of-its kind multi-country research examines the health and economic value of combining GLP-1 therapy with structured exercise. The findings make clear that structured exercise help protect and extend the investment being made in GLP-1 treatment by supporting more sustainable health outcomes, reducing costly downstream medical events, and generating substantial economic value.

Across all five studied markets, the research projects that combining structured exercise with GLP-1 therapy can generate substantial health, economic, and societal value compared with GLP-1 therapy alone:

• 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.

If public and private payers are investing in GLP-1 therapy, they should also be asking what helps that investment produce more sustainable health and economic returns. Structured exercise is one of the clearest answers.

Methodology

The research was conducted by by FTI Consulting’s Center for Healthcare Economics and Policy in partnership with a multinational coalition of fitness sector organizations, including the Health & Fitness Association, the HFA Foundation, AUSactive, Exercise New Zealand, Fitness Industry Council of Canada, and ukactive. 

Drawing on the existing body of research on GLP-1 therapy, weight loss, physical activity, and related health outcomes, the analysis modeled the incremental health and economic impact of adding structured exercise to GLP-1 therapy across participating markets. The model compares combined treatment against GLP-1 therapy alone over 10-year and 30-year horizons.