Overview

• The Biden administration has proposed expanding Medicare and Medicaid coverage for GLP-1 weight-loss drugs to address obesity more broadly in the U.S.
• Experts stress that GLP-1 drugs, like Ozempic and Wegovy, are effective tools but insufficient alone to combat the obesity epidemic without systemic changes to food environments and lifestyle support.
• Global access to GLP-1 drugs could save nearly one million lives annually, but production bottlenecks, high costs, and limited advocacy hinder equitable distribution in low- and middle-income countries.
• Calls are growing for the World Health Organization to include GLP-1 drugs on its Essential Medicines List and for innovative financing models to reduce costs and expand availability worldwide.
• Comprehensive obesity strategies must integrate medical treatments with improved access to nutritious foods, education on healthy eating, and public health policies targeting the root causes of obesity.