In the modern world, millions of people in different countries suffer from obesity. Being overweight leads to health problems that shorten life expectancy and negatively affect its quality. On the other hand, people with extra pounds quite often say that they face discrimination in one area or another.
All this leads to the fact that many people strive to lose weight and are ready to make restrictions and sacrifices in order to achieve their desired figure. In 2023, Ozempic and Wegovy diabetes and weight loss drugs from the Danish manufacturer Novo Nordisk revolutionized the market, forcing the whole world to talk about an effective cure for excess pounds.
In this article, the Finam Financial Group columnist examines the situation in the field of healthcare.
The number of Russians with excessive weight is growing, and they still face discrimination
Rosstat has published fresh data on the number of Russians with obesity. Thus, in 2022, more than 419 thousand new cases of obesity were detected in Russia, which is 10% more than in 2021. This was reported by RBC with reference to the data sheet of the department "Healthcare in Russia-2023". In total, nutritional and metabolic disorders were detected in 13.05 million Russians in 2022. Of these, 5.27 million had diabetes mellitus, and 2.17 million Russians were obese. As the Minister of Health Mikhail Murashko stated in October 2023, 11% of the population in Russia is obese.
For comparison, according to the Science portal, about 70% of adults in the United States are overweight, and the proportion of Europeans with similar problems exceeds 50%. Extra pounds have become a serious problem for the health care of many countries that are looking for ways to solve it.
In 2024, according to a survey by the SuperJob portal, 22% of employers in Russia, all other things being equal, will hire an applicant without extra pounds. For 69% of respondents, the candidate's weight does not matter. In conditions of personnel shortage in the market, the barrier is reduced. So, this year, only 19% of job seekers said they faced discrimination because of their weight when applying for a job. In 2019, there were 32% of them. Most often, respondents under the age of 34 spoke about discrimination against overweight Russians in society.
Ozempic and other GLP-1 peptide-based drugs - breakthrough of 2023
The rising incidence of obesity is a concern for the health systems of many countries, as it is believed to be the cause of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, fatty liver disease and some cancers. Decades of searching for effective medicines for excess weight have not led to the necessary results. The treatment of obesity with pills has often proved dangerous for the health of patients. However, in recent years, new weight loss drugs have emerged that mimic an intestinal hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1).
Drugs originally developed for the treatment of diabetes cause significant weight loss with predominantly manageable side effects. We are talking about such drugs as Ozempic and Wegovy. Last year, clinical trials showed that they also reduce the symptoms of heart failure and the risk of heart attacks and strokes, so they have serious health benefits besides weight loss. In 2023, Science magazine named GLP-1 drugs the "Breakthrough of the Year."
The excitement among patients who, thanks to these drugs, began to lose up to 15% of their weight, led to a rapid increase in demand and an increase in the shares of their manufacturers. So, in September 2023, for a while Novo Nordisk even became the most expensive company in Europe with a capitalization of $ 428 billion, overtaking the manufacturer of luxury goods - the French concern LVMH. However, by the end of December, its value had dropped to $355.4 billion. Nevertheless, such a rapid rise of a pharmaceutical company with a century-old history has become a phenomenon for 2023. According to Morgan Stanley's forecast, annual global sales of weight loss drugs could reach $77 billion by 2030. This is a very promising market.
Novo Nordisk stopped supplying Ozempic to Russia, therefore, according to Interfax, the government allowed the companies Geropharm and Promomed to produce an analogue of the popular Danish drug in Russia without the consent of the patent owner, since it was recognized as vital for Russians.
What is the danger?
The hype around new drugs is only growing. So, according to electronic medical records, in 2023, 1.7% of US residents prescribed Wegovy or Ozempic. However, all medicines, even such popular ones, have their own side effects, and they may not be suitable for everyone. So, in September 2023, US regulators updated the Ozempic label, indicating the potential risk of intestinal obstruction, and in October a Canadian group of researchers reported an increased likelihood of this complication, as well as pancreatitis. Nausea and potential gastrointestinal problems cause patients to refuse treatment. According to the Daily Mail, dozens of lawsuits have already been filed in the United States against the manufacturer Novo Nordisk, including from people whose loved ones losing weight with the help of new drugs allegedly cost their lives. However, despite the media hype, chronic complications and deaths caused by GLP-1-based drugs have not yet been officially confirmed.
Another question that worries patients is: how long-term will the effect of such drug weight loss be? Studies have shown that a year after discontinuation of therapy, two thirds of the lost body weight of participants taking GLP-1 drugs returned. This may mean that those who want to lose weight will have to take expensive medications for life, the price of which exceeds $ 1 thousand. However, new treatment methods are already changing the very perception of obesity as a chronic disease, the roots of which lie in biology and have nothing to do with the lack of willpower of the patient.
