15 June, 2026
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ukactive has partnered with international health and fitness leaders to publish new health economic research, calling for deeper integration of physical activity and strength training in GLP-1 treatment.
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 organisations, 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:
The findings demonstrate that as GLP-1 use expands, exercise should play an essential role in helping patients and health systems maximise the long-term value from new generations of weight-loss drugs.
Compared with medication alone, adding structured exercise to GLP-1 therapy can help patients:
Consequently, ukactive, the Health & Fitness Association, the HFA Foundation, AUSactive, Exercise New Zealand, Fitness Industry Council of Canada are calling on policymakers, payers, and healthcare systems to integrate structured exercise into GLP-1 treatment pathways. Specifically, to:
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 emphasised the urgency of ensuring physical activity and nutrition are central to systems supporting the global roll-out of obesity medications.
Cameron Saunders, CEO of ukactive, said: “GLP-1 medications have the potential to be genuinely transformative, but to really achieve this potential fully they must be combined with structured exercise.
“This research shows what could be at stake if they are not: £2.7bn in avoidable costs to the UK health system over the next 10 years alone.
“Our members are ready to be delivery partners – we have the facilities, the professionals and programmes to make it happen at scale.
“The evidence is clear and the bill for inaction is one that health systems cannot keep picking up.”
Greta Wagner, President and CEO (Interim) of the Health & Fitness Association and President of the HFA Foundation, said: “GLP-1 medications are rapidly changing obesity treatment, but weight loss alone is not the full measure of success.
“The health and fitness industry has long known that lasting wellness requires more than a number on a scale, it requires strength, function, and sustainable healthy life habits.
“This research confirms that exercise, especially strength training, helps patients sustain the benefits of GLP-1 treatment over time. It sends a clear message that exercise belongs at the centre of GLP-1 care.”
Global support
Ken Griffin, CEO of AUSactive, said: “We know weightbearing exercise is good for patients. Now we know it’s good for health systems too.
“Health systems cannot afford to think about obesity treatment in silos. Medication, movement, and long-term behavior support need to be connected if we want to improve outcomes and reduce avoidable costs.”
Richard Beddie, CEO of Exercise New Zealand, said: “This research gives policymakers a practical evidence base for action.
“The question is not whether exercise is beneficial in general. The question is how we make structured exercise part of the treatment pathway for people receiving GLP-1 therapy – this both improves the efficacy of the GLP-1 intervention, but more importantly reduces long term health costs.
Zach Weston, Executive Director of the Fitness Industry Council of Canada, said: “Canada, like many countries, is facing both rising obesity-related costs and persistent physical inactivity.
“These findings show why structured exercise should be part of the healthcare conversation as GLP-1 use grows for the long-term sustainable success of clinical therapy.”
The full white paper is available here.
