Anti-obesity medication (AOM) is transforming how people look and feel about themselves. Many celebrities, including Elon Musk, have given it a go. Musk claimed that he lost nearly 30 pounds. The drugs – with increasingly well-known names such as Wegovy and Mounjaro – are making waves among investors too. AOMs have been one of the hottest themes over the past 12 months, perhaps second only to artificial intelligence (AI), and there is plenty of long-term growth to come. The global pharmaceutical giants behind obesity medication, such as Eli Lilly in the US and Novo Nordisk, based in Denmark, are already enjoying rapid sales and profit growth, a trend set to continue for years to come.
A weighty subject
Obesity is a huge market. The condition is defined as a complicated, chronic disease in which too many fat deposits undermine or damage a person’s health. The World Health Organisation (WHO) now lists it as the fifth-biggest risk factor leading to death. It reduces quality of life as it can lead to diabetes, heart disease and some cancers, while it also affects bone health and reproduction.
