A recent major global study has revealed that nearly 800 million adults worldwide are now so overweight they meet the criteria for powerful weight-loss injections like Wegovy and Mounjaro. This alarming figure indicates that more than one in four adults globally could be considered for these medical treatments. The comprehensive research, which analyzed health data from over 810,000 adults across 99 countries between 2008 and 2021, scaled up these findings to global population figures, confirming the substantial number of individuals who qualify for such interventions.

The study found that the highest rates of eligibility were concentrated in Europe and North America, where over two in five adults met the threshold for treatment, significantly surpassing the global average. Similar high levels were also observed in the Pacific Islands. Adults were categorized as qualifying if they were clinically obese, or significantly overweight with co-existing health problems such as high blood pressure or diabetes. In certain parts of Asia, lower weight thresholds were applied, acknowledging that individuals in these regions may face serious health risks at lower body weights. Demographically, women were more likely to qualify than men, and eligibility sharply increased with age. Specifically, nearly four in ten people in their late 50s and early 60s met the criteria, a stark contrast to fewer than two in ten adults in their late 20s and early 30s.

These innovative weight-loss injections function by effectively curbing appetite, which helps users feel fuller for longer periods and consequently leads to reduced food intake. Clinical studies have demonstrated that individuals using these medications frequently achieve a significant reduction of 15 to 20 percent of their body weight, an outcome often far exceeding what most people can accomplish through diet changes alone.

However, recent expert warnings highlight a critical consideration: many individuals who begin weight-loss injections may require long-term adherence to maintain their results. A significant review, led by researchers at Oxford University and published in The British Medical Journal, scrutinized 37 studies involving more than 9,300 people. This review concluded that weight typically returns within two years of discontinuing the jabs, often at a much faster rate than weight regained by those who lost weight through diet and exercise alone. On average, users were observed to regain approximately one pound per month after stopping treatment, with many projected to revert to their starting weight within 17 to 20 months.

Furthermore, the health benefits beyond weight loss, such as improvements in blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels, were also found to diminish after the cessation of these drugs. Dr. Jennifer Manne-Goehler of Mass General Brigham, a senior author of the latest research into global obesity, emphasized the transformative impact of these medicines on the understanding of obesity. She stated, "For decades, we told people the problem was simply eating too much and moving too little. These medicines show that biology plays a much bigger role than we once thought."

Despite their efficacy, challenges remain for the widespread availability of weight-loss jabs. The World Health Organization is currently exploring avenues to make these treatments more accessible globally, but significant hurdles persist, including high costs and supply chain limitations. In numerous countries, these injections are exclusively available through private healthcare, often incurring costs of hundreds of pounds per month. Experts universally stress that medication alone cannot resolve the complex obesity crisis; it must be complemented by broader systemic changes in food policy and comprehensive, long-term support for individuals.