13/01/2026
The worldwide prevalence of has more than doubled over the past three decades, accompanied by sharp rises in weight-related conditions such as type 2 , cardiovascular disease, and several cancers.
This escalating challenge places increasing strain on systems and national economies across the globe.
Against this backdrop, a new international study suggests that glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, commonly referred to as medications, could play a substantial role in addressing obesity and its related complications at scale.
The analysis was co-led by investigators from Mass General Brigham and aimed to estimate how many adults worldwide might benefit from these medicines.
A global analysis of data from 99 countries suggests over 27 percent of adults worldwide may be eligible for GLP-1 weight-loss medicines, raising urgent questions around access, equity, and obesity care.