In efforts to sustain the use of GLP-1 drugs by its members – most of whom stop claiming for the treatment within six months – Discovery’s rewards scheme Vitality is stepping up its support, saying sustained weight loss requires more than drugs, reports Business Tech.
International research shows many patients stop treatment within a year, while an analysis of claims from Discovery Health Medical Scheme (DHMS) members shows most stop claiming for the medicines after less than six months.
Vitality will now offer people who join its HealthyWeight programme a doctor-led assessment that may include a prescription for anti-obesity medicines, and to encourage them to also adjust their diet and exercise habits to maintain their weight loss, according to Vitality SA chief medical officer Mosima Mabunda.
Demand for GLP-1 medicines has surged since 2022, with the number of claims paid out to DHMS members rising almost threefold, from 22 400 to 61 200 in 2025, she said. These figures under-represent the true scale of GLP-1 use among medical scheme members, as many people pay out of pocket, she said.
The number of people using GLP-1 medicines is expected to increase significantly when cheaper generics become available.
Seventy percent of overweight Vitality members in 2010 were still obese 15 years later, highlighting how difficult it is to reverse the condition once established, according to analysis by Discovery.
“Obesity is not simply a lifestyle issue. It is a chronic disease that often becomes harder to reverse over time," said Discovery Vitality CEO Dinesh Govender. The goal is to intervene earlier and provide them with the support they need to prevent obesity from becoming a persistent health issue, he added.
Fewer than half (48%) of the Vitality members classed as overweight in 2010 had moved to a healthy weight range by 2025.
Business Day article – Discovery Vitality boosts support for obesity drug users (Restricted access)
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