weight loss

Eli Lilly announced positive Phase 3 results for orforglipron, a once-daily oral drug for type 2 diabetes. The ACHIEVE-1 trial showed the drug lowered A1C levels (1.3-1.6% reduction) in four weeks and promoted weight loss (up to 7.9%). The safety profile was consistent with existing GLP-1 medications. Lilly plans further studies, positioning orforglipron as a potential competitor in the diabetes and weight-loss treatment market.

A 360 kg man from Inner Mongolia, once China’s heaviest person, lost nearly half his weight through bariatric surgery and lifestyle changes in four months, highlighting obesity management challenges. China’s obesity rate has tripled since 2004, with severe obesity (BMI ≥35) causing cascading health risks. Experts stress tiered interventions: behavioral changes, medications (e.g., GLP-1 agonists), and surgery, which requires lifelong monitoring. The global weight loss surgery market, valued at $2.4 billion in 2023, grows as obesity costs economies $2 trillion annually. While technology aids management, lasting success hinges on medical rigor and personal resolve, offering both caution and hope amid rising healthcare burdens.