Countering Obesity with Drugs Vs Viable Alternatives

A sizable obese population in India is a free ground for multinational pharma companies to launch various anti-obesity drugs.

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Let aside the affordability issue, these drugs can be a game changer. However, severe side effects lurk in the background. Alternative treatment and fundamental lifestyle changes can be seen as an alternative mode to counter obesity. Let's examine the available and prospective obesity therapeutics.

The current state of obesity in India is alarming. As was evident from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 119th Maan Ki Baat, where he cautioned against the rise in obesity cases that have doubled in the last few years. A major concern during his speech was how children are getting affected more. Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, a renowned Diabetologist, also raised alarms while underscoring the urgent need for a multifaceted and collective approach to combat the growing obesity crisis in India.

India's stint with obesity started in the last 20th century with people getting addicted to sugary drinks, junk foods etc. Rapid urbanisation, economic development, lifestyle changes and less physical activity all contributed to a rise in the obese population. Obesity is linked with stigma, and many encounter fat shaming. It leads to psychological stress. This apart, an obese person is vulnerable to various health issues like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, sleep apnea, etc.

Launch of anti-obesity drugs

Seeing this as a strategy to market anti-obesity drugs, many multinational pharmaceutical companies are in a rat race to launch various products. With the launch of weight-loss drugs in the Indian market, the debate around pharmacological obesity treatment has intensified.

Seeking an opportunity, the US pharma major, Eli Lilly, recently launched Mounjaro. It is a single-dose vial presentation and has received marketing authorisation from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO). The company went ahead and also launched a campaign to combat the associated stigma with obesity.