The end of overweight: Developing a treatment for obesity

The obesity rate of Koreans has increased significantly from 31.7% in 2007 to 37.2% in 2020. The BBC reported that half of the world's population will be overweight by 2053.

Recently, adolescent obesity has been increasing prominently. Hong Yong-hee, a professor of pediatrics and adolescents, defined that obesity that occurs in the early teens and early 20s leads to adult obesity and has a much higher mortality rate, so one must stop doing so.

At Asan Medical Center in Seoul, obesity causes furthermore health problems than high blood pressure, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, fatty liver, cholelithiasis, menstrual irregularities, and depression.

An anti-obesity drug, selected as the breakthrough of the year

Science(AAAS) selected the 2023 Breakthrough of the Year, citing obesity treatments targeting glucagon-like peptides-1 as the most innovative issue. GLP-1 is a hormone that is involved in promoting insulin secretion and controlling blood sugar. In addition to treating obesity, the drug has been shown to improve heart disease and lower the risk of stroke.

On the other hand, as always, the realization of the drug, which was only plausible by imagination, brought side effects. As it stimulated the sympathetic nervous system, side effects such as headache, dry mouth, constipation, and sleep disorders were seen.

In addition, 76% of people who had been prescribed drugs stopped anti-obesity drug treatment due to a high-cost burden.

Subsequently, Mirae Asset Global Investments Co.Ltd predicted that the obesity treatment market would grow 30% annually, reaching the $100 billion market for the shortest term in history.

'Fit ripped, and healthy' Elon Musk mentioned when he took an obesity treatment in 2023. Undoubtedly people have more desire for the drug because it is an anti-obesity treatment quote by Elon Musk, who has a considerable influence on the world. 

Perhaps in the future, experts forecast that we will be able to come to a society where everything can be solved with just one single pill. '