As reported in the World Obesity Atlas 2024 by the World Obesity Federation, the projections for 2035 suggest that more than 1.77 billion people will be overweight, and 1.53 billion people will be affected by obesity. This will represent 54% of all adults worldwide.
Obesity is a chronic complex disease defined by excessive fat deposits that can impair health. Obesity can lead to increased risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease, it can affect bone health and reproduction, it increase the risk of certain cancers. Obesity influences the quality of living, such as sleeping or moving
Emerging treatment options :
In December 2014, liraglutide at 3.0 mg daily became the first GLP-1 receptor agonist to receive approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States for the treatment of obesity.
Trending options in obesity treatment:
medication | Generic Name | Minimum Age | Drug class | Approved usage(s) | Prescribed usage(s) |
Mounjaro | Tirzepatide | 18 | GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonist | Type 2 diabetes | Type 2 diabetes/ overweight/obesity |
Ozempic | Semaglutide | 18 | GLP-1 receptor agonist | Type 2 diabetes/ heart disease prevention* | Type 2 diabetes/ heart disease prevention*/ overweight/obesity |
Wegovy | Semaglutide | 12 | GLP-1 receptor agonist | Overweight/obesity/ heart disease prevention** | Overweight/obesity/ heart disease prevention** |
Zepbound | Tirzepatide | 18 | GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonist | Overweight/obesity** | Overweight/obesity** |
* For adults with type 2 diabetes and known heart disease ** For adults with overweight or obesity and at least one other weight-related condition |
- Janić M, Janež A, El-Tanani M, Rizzo M. Obesity: Recent Advances and Future Perspectives. Biomedicines. 2025 Feb 5;13(2):368. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines13020368. PMID: 40002780; PMCID: PMC11853004.
- https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight
- https://www.webmd.com/obesity/mounjaro-ozempic-wegovy-zepbound-difference