The Obesity Debate in the US Sparked by a 'Revolutionary Treatment'

Weight Loss Pills in High Demand... Preventive Treatment Also Recommended
Concerns Over Side Effects and Inequality Debate Growing

[Asia Economy Reporter Bang Je-il] Medications like 'Wegovy' that suppress appetite to induce weight loss are becoming a major trend, especially among the wealthy in the United States. Amid this, debates surrounding the popularity of obesity treatments are spreading across various fronts.

On the 19th (local time), according to US media Axios and others, US healthcare officials have begun to officially recognize obesity as a serious disease. Six health advocacy organizations recently issued a joint statement defining "obesity as a widely prevalent chronic disease."

Children participating in an obesity prevention program.
[Photo by EPA·Yonhap News]

They pointed out that "obesity is characterized by excessive fat accumulation and distribution that threatens health and requires long-term treatment," adding that "virtually all systems in the body are affected by obesity." The American Academy of Pediatrics also recommended last month that obesity in children should be addressed proactively and that treatment should not be delayed.

Behind this movement is the establishment of groundbreaking treatments used for both diabetes and obesity. Notably, billionaire Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, recently responded on Twitter to a question about his weight control secret by saying "fasting and Wegovy," indicating that these treatments are widely used among the wealthy and socially trusted.

Obesity Rate in the US Reached 40% as of 2017

According to the latest obesity report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the obesity rate in the United States was 40% as of 2017. This is the highest figure, overwhelmingly surpassing other OECD member countries such as South Korea (5.5%) and Japan (4.2%).

In its 2019 report titled "The Heavy Burden of Obesity ? The Economics of Prevention," the OECD pointed out that the rising obesity rate acts as a shackle on the economy. It explained that obesity promotes diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, dementia, cancer, and other conditions, leading to increased healthcare costs for treatment.

2017 OECD Member Countries Obesity Population Ratio [Source: Captured from OECD Report]

Furthermore, it urged prevention, noting that early retirement, absenteeism, and reduced productivity due to obesity can cause unnecessary losses in the labor market.

As calls for obesity treatment grow for various reasons, diverse debates have emerged within the United States. Axios highlighted that the recommendation for treatment raises the issue of considering obesity not as a lifestyle choice but as a disease. Axios described this as a "rapid cultural shift," warning that obesity treatments risk permanently stigmatizing obesity as a disease and emphasizing the need for a balanced approach.

Moreover, several controversies have already arisen regarding the actual use of obesity treatments. One prominent issue is inequality due to the high cost of available obesity medications, limiting access for many users.

Wegovy, prescribed for weight loss under specific conditions, has a list price of $1,349 (approximately 1.75 million KRW) per monthly dose. Neither the US federal government's Medicare nor many private insurers cover prescriptions for weight loss purposes.

In particular, the insurance industry is concerned about the widespread off-label use of diabetes medications for weight loss. Advocacy groups have begun pressuring Medicare to include obesity treatments under insurance coverage. If such demands are met, debates over fairness with other similarly repurposed medications are also expected.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.