One promising – and well-publicized – area in the treatment of obesity is through the use of a new class of drugs originally approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Technological advances in pharmacology, genetic engineering, genomics, and artificial intelligence are increasing the speed at which medical breakthroughs occur. These advances are creating fundamental changes to our understanding of health and medical treatment, and could produce a lasting positive mortality and morbidity impact.

In this article series, the Munich Re medical team examines recent innovations in the field of medicine that are of particular interest to life and disability insurance carriers. Our first topic is the new drugs capturing headlines for their promise in the treatment of obesity.   

New Obesity Drugs

Obesity has long been a global health issue. The World Health Organization estimates that global obesity has tripled since 1975, and the Centers for Disease Control puts the U.S. obesity rate at more than forty percent of Americans.¹ While a low percentage of people with obesity are considered metabolically healthy,² the majority are considered metabolically unhealthy, with unfavorable obesity-related cardiovascular co-morbidities such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes. Obesity is also correlated with a host of health risks including heart disease, stroke, and some cancers. Even with a multi-billion dollar³ weight and diet management industry in the U.S., offering everything from medications and supplements to weight loss apps and bariatric surgeries, true success in treating obesity has been limited. 

One promising – and well-publicized – area in the treatment of obesity is through the use of a new class of drugs, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists, a class of drugs originally approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Studies have shown dramatic weight loss effects compared to other obesity medications.⁴ This class of drugs mimics the hormone that stimulates insulin production, which prompts the body to produce more insulin which lowers blood sugar levels. They also slow the movement of food from the stomach, causing early satiety and decreasing appetite.

O-O-O-Oh Really?

Many are familiar with the GLP-1 agonist, semaglutide, sold under the brand name Ozempic for type 2 diabetes. Despite frequent headlines about Ozempic as a weight loss drug, many may not know that Ozempic isn’t approved for weight loss. Currently in the U.S. and Canada, only two GLP-1 agonists are approved for obesity treatment and sold under the brand names Wegovy (semaglutide) and Saxenda (liraglutide).

Wegovy is made by Denmark-based Novo Nordisk, the same company that makes the diabetes drug Ozempic. Both contain semaglutide, but Wegovy is marketed specifically for chronic weight loss and comes in higher doses. Patients taking the higher 2.4 mg semaglutide injection showed dramatic ~15% (~35 pound) weight loss at 68 weeks in a recent study, results not seen in any other FDA-approved weight loss medication. Additional metabolic benefits, including lower blood pressure, improved cholesterol, and reduced waist circumference – all of which are risk factors for heart disease – were also evident.⁵

In other promising news, another new type of type 2 diabetes medication, dual-action GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonists, may be even more effective than GLP-1 inhibitors alone at inducing weight loss.⁶ The Eli Lilly drug tirzepatide, sold under the brand name Mounjaro, was approved for diabetes treatment in 2022 and has received Fast-Track FDA designation for approval in weight loss, expected in 2023.

It’s not surprising, given these results, that word is spreading rapidly. Social media has exploded with weight loss success stories, such that some diabetic patients are now finding it hard to get their prescribed medications.   

A Magic Bullet? 

It’s important to stress that these drugs are not magic bullets to be used on their own. They are meant for chronic weight management as an adjunct to diet and exercise lifestyle modification. Similar to other weight loss treatments, the most important aspect for weight loss success is a consistent and sustainable healthy lifestyle change!

We also must remember that these drugs are not without concerns. They must be given by injection and have potential side effects that include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, pancreatitis, and kidney and/or liver damage. Further, treatment is expensive, costing upwards of $1,000 per month in the U.S., and is often not covered by insurance for weight loss management. Weight rebound can also occur if the drug is stopped, so it remains unclear if lifelong treatment is necessary. 

From a life insurance underwriting perspective, GLP-1 drugs and future combination drugs could make a significant impact on our worsening prevalence of obesity. The mortality and morbidity impact could be huge if this new class of drugs could end obesity entirely! Not only would we see decreased heart disease, the leading cause of death in the U.S. and the second leading cause of death in Canada,⁷ but obesity-related cancers and all other obesity comorbidities such as obstructive sleep apnea and fatty liver disease would also decrease. That would be amazing.

The next article in this series will focus on advances in HIV treatment.