INDIANAPOLIS — Researchers from the Fairbanks School of Public Health at Indiana University Indianapolis have launched a first-of-its-kind study — in collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company, Regenstrief Institute and several employers in Indiana — to better understand how obesity management medications may improve employee health, as well as their impact on long-term costs for businesses and the health care system.
“As a company deeply invested in advancing treatment options for obesity, Lilly is proud to sponsor research that explores the real-world impact of our medications,” said Frank Cunningham, group vice president, global value and access at Lilly. “This study offers a unique opportunity to understand how our innovations can impact health outcomes and workplace productivity, helping employers make informed decisions about benefits that truly support their teams.”
The five-year study will explore how medications used to manage obesity affect clinical outcomes and costs, such as absenteeism and disability claims. With obesity contributing to higher rates of chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease, the study could provide valuable insights as employers evaluate benefit options that support healthier, more productive workforces.
“Obesity is a leading cause of chronic disease in the U.S.,” said study co-lead Joshua Vest, associate dean for research and professor of health policy and management at the Fairbanks School and a research scientist at Regenstrief Institute. “Indiana’s adult obesity rate is 37.8 percent, the seventh highest in the nation. Employers are facing difficult decisions about how to address the costs and health challenges associated with this trend.”
The study represents a new research model, bringing together a public university, a global pharmaceutical company and private employers to generate real-world evidence that could inform employee benefit strategies.
“This is a unique collaboration, the first of its kind, that we hope will grow as more employers recognize the potential value of participating,” said Aparna Soni, study co-lead, Fairbanks School associate professor of health policy and management and Regenstrief affiliate scientist. “The more data we have from across sectors, the more we can understand the real-world impact of obesity management medications on health outcomes and workplace performance.”
Anonymized data from participating employers’ health care spending and job-related factors potentially including absenteeism, workers’ compensation and disability claims will determine participation. The study will include those eligible for obesity medications under current guidelines, with new participants added over time.
Multiple employers from both the private and public sectors have signed on to participate in the study.
The study will follow a cohort of employees and dependents who are using obesity management medications to assess the medications’ impact on both direct and indirect costs.
The cohorts will include two groups:
- Individuals with obesity or overweight who are using obesity management medications.
- A matched comparison group of individuals with obesity or overweight and similar characteristics who are not using obesity management medications.
The study, “Estimating the Impact of Obesity Medications on Clinical and Economic Outcomes,” began recruiting employers earlier this year. It will run through Nov. 30, 2029. Additional researchers include Nir Menachemi, Jiali Han, Jiangqiong Li and Andrea Renzi-Burns from the Fairbanks School and Courtney Brown, Elizabeth Eby, Lida Etemad and Jiayin Xue from Lilly.
Indiana-based employers interested in studying the impact of obesity and obesity medications can still join the study. Contact fsphinfo@iu.edu for more information about joining.
Joshua R. Vest, PhD, MPH
In addition to being a research scientist with the Clem McDonald Center for Biomedical Informatics at Regenstrief Institute, Joshua R. Vest, PhD, MPH, associate dean for research and a professor of health policy and management at the Indiana University Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health.
