2023-11-10 13:00:00
EXTRA discount: -€4 on your National Geographic subscription with the code “NGEXTRA4” + NG Agenda as a gift Limited coupons!
Enjoy National Geographic Special Editions at an exclusive price for being a subscriber.
Weight loss treatments are marking a milestone in medical history. GLP-1 class drugs, such as Wegs y Ozempic from Novo Nordisk, or Mounjaro from Eli Lilly, have not only proven to be effective in glucose control but also promise significant weight reductions.
The recent approval of Zepbound by the FDA (United States Food and Drug Administration) for Eli Lilly symbolizes an official recognition of this new era in the treatment of obesity. Mounjaro, in particular, had been approved for patients with diabetes last year, but was already being used unofficially for weight loss.
Do you know what a calorie is? -Bill Bryson
Impact on the industry
The rise of these drugs has caused several industries to question their future. Food and beverage companies, like Conagra, could rethink the serving sizes of their products. Meanwhile, giants like Walmart They anticipate an increase in sales of health and wellness products.
Nestlé, owner of brands such as Kit Kat and Nespresso, recognizes the need to adapt its product portfolio to medical treatments for weight loss. Its CEO, Mark Schneider, indicated that although most of its products will not be affected, the company is developing a variety of complementary products to these treatments, with the aim of helping to maintain lost weight.
The solution to obesity could lie in this mutation
For their part, PepsiCo and Coca-Cola remain expectant without reporting impacts for the moment. In the chocolate sector, Hershey’s also reports minimal influence. Interestingly, Keurig Dr Pepper has seen no change in coffee consumption, suggesting that the consumption habits of certain products maintain their inertia.
Even airlines are becoming interested in the effects of these drugs. The tireless search for efficiency by airline companies leads them to prioritize the lightness of their aircraft. The logic is simple: the lower the weight, the less effort the engines require and, therefore, the less fuel is needed to keep the plane in the air.
The analyst Sheila Kahyaoglu by Jefferies suggests in a study that if the average airline passenger lost weight thanks to slimming drugs like Ozempic, companies could save significantly. He gives the example of United Airlines, where a reduction of 4.5 kg in the average weight per passenger could translate into a saving of around 812 kg per flight.
Microbiota transplants against obesity
This could result in a reduction in fuel consumption of 104 million liters annually, which is estimated to be a saving of $80 million, based on current fuel prices.
The effects on health services and medical devices
In the healthcare arena, Fresenius Medical Care and Davita are carefully assessing the implications, although limited impact is expected. Regarding medical devices, Johnson & Johnson reports a decrease in demand for surgical devices due to the preference for these pharmacological treatments.
Abbott Laboratories and Dexcom, makers of glucose monitors, downplay the impact on their sales, suggesting that diabetic patients could combine glucose monitors with medications for long-term weight loss. Insulet Corp sees a delay in insulin dependency, but no significant long-term impact on its insulin pump market.
Meanwhile, surgical robot makers like Intuitive Surgical are seeing a slowdown in weight-loss surgeries, although they don’t expect patients to stay on drug treatments indefinitely.
Heart device companies, such as Boston Scientific, expect a smaller impact, while Resmed, which specializes in treating sleep apnea, has seen no change in its patients’ adherence. These trends underscore a changing landscape: modern medicine is not only changing lives, but entire markets. Adaptation will be key for companies seeking to thrive in this new medical and consumer reality.
The Obesity and Depression Link
A real revolution?
Beyond all the changes that the rise of these new drugs is producing, are we really facing a revolution? According to Explain María Josefa García Barradoprofessor of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Salamanca in The ConversationCurrently, the alternatives available for weight reduction are limited, which is why the enthusiasm generated by Ozempic is notable both in the medical sphere and in society.
However, it would be futile to try to counteract obesity without first modifying the inadequate eating patterns or sedentary lifestyle that are usually the origin of this condition. In the Spanish context, This medicine is supplied exclusively by prescription and is mainly given for type 2 diabetes.
The specialists who have developed the Therapeutic Positioning Report point out that the weight reduction achieved with Ozempic tends to pause or stabilize after 60-68 weeks of treatment. If the drug is discontinued, the patient is likely to regain lost weight, suggesting the need for sustained treatment to maintain weight loss. Even so, there is no certainty about the possible negative consequences of its prolonged use.
The idea of a “miracle drug” that allows you to lose weight quickly and effortlessly is an illusion. In obesity management, medical supervision is crucial; Ignoring it is a deception to oneself and a danger to one’s health.
#redefining #consumer #habits