The Global Anti-Obesity Drug Market Is Anticipated To Witness High Growth Owing To Rising Prevalence Of Obesity

Anti-Obesity Drug Market 

The global anti-obesity drug market is one of the rapidly growing healthcare markets across the globe. Anti-obesity drugs help in weight reduction by decreasing the appetite or by absorbing nutrients in the body. These drugs provide efficient and long term results for weight management. The anti-obesity drug market is dominated by prescription-based appetite suppressants and absorption inhibitors. Orlistat is one of the leading anti-obesity drugs and works by inhibiting fat absorption in the stomach and small intestine. Other class of anti-obesity drugs include SGLT-2 inhibitors, GLP-1 receptor agonists, etc that help in weight loss by altering gut hormone levels and insulin resistance. Growing obesity rates, increasing preference for minimally invasive weight loss treatments along with favorable reimbursement scenario are key factors driving the demand for anti-obesity drugs globally.

The Global anti-obesity drug market is estimated to be valued at US$ 2928.39 Mn  in 2024 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 7.9%  over the forecast period from 2024 to 2030.

Key Takeaways

Key players operating in the anti-obesity drug market are ARJO, Etac AB, Medline Industries Inc., Guldmann Inc., Sunrise Medical Inc., Stryker Corporation, Winncare Group (Mangar Health), Joerns Healthcare Inc., Invacare Corporation, Baxter (Hill Rom Holding Inc.), Gainsborough Healthcare Group, and Savaria Corporation (Handicare Group AB), among others.

North America leads the global anti-obesity drug market due to increasing healthcare spending and growing obese population. However, Asia Pacific region offers lucrative growth opportunities owing to improving healthcare infrastructure and rising focus on lifestyle diseases treatment in emerging nations like India and China.

Key players are focussing on strategic acquisitions and collaborations to expand their anti-obesity drug portfolio and strengthen global footprint. For instance, in 2021, Novo Nordisk acquired Dicerna Pharmaceuticals to develop new generation of treatments for obesity and other metabolic diseases.

Market Drivers

The key driver supporting the growth of Anti-Obesity Drug Market Size includes rising prevalence of obesity globally due to sedentary lifestyle and consumption of junk foods. According to the data by WHO, over 1.9 billion adults aged 18 years and older were overweight in 2016 and out of these over 650 million adults were obese. Rising medical conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases associated with obesity are further fueling the adoption of prescription anti-obesity drugs.

Market Restrain

However, the growth of global anti-obesity drug market is challenged by certain restraints. Firstly, the anti-obesity drugs are often associated with certain side effects like gastrointestinal issues, mood changes and headache which restrict their usage. Secondly, these drugs are highly priced especially in developing nations which limits their affordability in mass population. Lastly, alternatives like bariatric surgeries restrict the preference of anti-obesity drugs only for morbidly obesity patients. Stringent regulations are also a major challenge for entry of new anti-obesity drugs players in the market.

Segment Analysis

The anti-obesity drug market can be segmented into two broad categories - prescription drugs and dietary supplements. Prescription drugs held a larger market share during the past few years, owing to the advantages offered by drugs approved by regulatory authorities. Within prescription drugs, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists emerged as the dominating sub-segment. These drugs target appetite control centers in the brain and accelerate gastric emptying to help in weight loss. They also help control blood glucose and reduce cardiovascular risks. Factors like strong efficacy, ease of use through injection or oral formulations, and approval for long-term use have made GLP-1R agonists preferred over other drug classes like serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors.

Global Analysis

North America currently dominates the anti-obesity drug market, accounting for over 40% revenue share. Higher acceptability of drugs for weight management along with aggressive marketing by pharmaceutical companies have supported early adoption in the region. Europe holds the second largest market position, driven by rising prevalence of obesity due to changing lifestyles. However, Asia Pacific is expected to witness the highest growth during the forecast period owing to growing awareness, increasing healthcare expenditure, and expanding accessibility to weight management therapies in major countries like China and India. Factors like growing urbanization, rising disposable incomes, and penetration of medical insurance are also facilitating regional market growth.

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