The obesity epidemic: what is pharma doing?

Recent figures confirm a continuous rise in rates of overweight and obesity. Since the 1980s, the prevalence of both conditions has more than doubled worldwide. In 2014, more than half of the adult population was tackling weight issues, with 13% living with obesity and 39% being overweight. Even more alarming are the data concerning children; in 2014, 40 million children under the age of 5 years were either overweight or obese. The big question is: What is the pharmaceutical industry doing to help tackle this epidemic?

A new understanding of obesity

While excessive intake of high-energy foods in conjunction with reduced physical activity is the classic cause of obesity, associations with exposure to some endocrine disruptors (chemicals that interfere with hormonal balances) have also been put forward as potential causes. New insights such as this have provided pharma with some promising ways forward in the development of drugs to help people contending with weight issues and any associated impact to health and well-being.