Obesity drugs: Patients can lose 15 percent of body weight by taking this drug

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  Quantumrun Foresight
• January 8, 2022

Insight summary

In a significant stride against obesity, a medication originally designed for diabetes management has been approved for weight loss purposes. Through a synthetic gut hormone, this drug not only regulates blood sugar but also reduces appetite by signaling a feeling of fullness to the brain. However, its high cost, potential side effects, and the influence of powerful pharmaceutical lobbies, alongside environmental considerations and shifting perceptions of health, underscore the complexities of this new approach to battling obesity.

Obesity drug context

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave the green light for a medication, initially used to manage diabetes, to be repurposed for aiding in weight loss. The drug is Wegovy, a prescription injection to combat the escalating issue of obesity within the US. Obesity, defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or above, is estimated to affect approximately one in three people across the nation.

The mechanism behind Wegovy's effect is a synthetic version of a naturally occurring gut hormone, GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide 1). This hormone triggers the pancreas to release a surge of insulin following a meal. Increased insulin levels help in managing blood sugar, ensuring it doesn't reach levels that are too high. When this hormone is synthetically introduced into the body via the Wegovy injection, it is able to stimulate the same response, helping to regulate blood sugar in a similar manner to natural GLP-1.

However, the GLP-1 hormone does more than regulate insulin. It also communicates with the brain, signaling that the body is satiated, or full, after eating. By simulating this feeling of fullness, Wegovy is effective in curbing one's appetite. Wegovy became the second weight loss drug to gain FDA approval since 2014, and health professionals are optimistic about its potential in managing life-threatening obesity.

Disruptive impact

Patients included in the 68-week trial for the drug reported a weight loss of about 15 percent, significantly higher than the average five to 10 percent from comparable medications. Wegovy was also proven to be safe, with side effects that are easily treatable and disappear after a few weeks. Side effects include nausea, diarrhea, and indigestion. Dr. Archana Sadhu, head of Houston Methodist Hospital's diabetes program, believes that the drug would not only mitigate diabetes but would also encourage patients to exercise and eat healthier.

However, some doctors don't think that the drug is necessarily a game-changer. The pricing is expected to be similar to Novo Nordisk's other weight loss injection at more than $1,300 USD per month without insurance. The US national health insurance, Medicare, doesn't cover weight loss treatments, which reflects how obesity is still generally perceived as a lifestyle issue rather than a genetic problem.

Other pharmaceutical-grade weight loss medications are currently under development. Should these medications also achieve FDA approval, the public will have a range of medically proven weight loss tools to curb the obesity epidemic prevalent in North America and other developed nations.

Implications of obesity drugs

Wider implications of obesity drugs may include:

• More pharma companies investing in their own weight loss injections and pills.


• A greater consumption of unhealthy foods if users of these drugs feel empowered to eat more lavishly, assuming that the drugs cancel out their weight gain. 


• More insurance companies including weight management drugs as part of diabetes and cardiovascular treatments.


• Decreased profits for the exercise industry should a percentage of customers opt to replace exercise with weight loss drugs. 


• Advancements in biotechnological research, driving our understanding of the human body and disease management to new frontiers.


• The reallocation of healthcare resources toward other areas of social development.


• A healthier workforce in the long-term, increasing productivity and reducing days lost to illness across multiple sectors.


• Powerful pharmaceutical lobbies leading to political challenges when trying to enact health policies that do not align with their interests.


• The increased production and disposal of these pharmaceutical products could putting an additional burden on the environment, leading to a greater need for sustainable drug production and disposal strategies.

Questions to consider

• Would you consider taking weight loss drugs to manage your weight?


• How do you think weight loss drugs could change food consumption in your country?