New GLP-1 Therapies Like Semaglutide Offer Hope Beyond Diet and Exercise, Say Experts and WHO – Firstpost

“Stop eating so much,” “Just go for a walk”, how many times have you heard this? Most women struggling with weight have heard versions of this their entire lives. The journey often becomes a cycle of shame, self-blame and exhaustion. But modern science is clear: obesity is not a personal failure, it is a chronic, relapsing medical condition, driven by biology, hormones and the brain’s regulation of appetite.

Global and national health bodies echo this shift. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recognises obesity as a chronic disease requiring long-term management. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has repeatedly warned that India’s rapid rise in obesity especially among women is fuelling type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and metabolic disorders at a younger age.

According to NFHS-5, nearly 24% of Indian women are overweight or obese, with rates rising sharply in urban areas. This is no longer a cosmetic issue; it is a national health concern.

And today, science is rewriting the script. New treatments, especially GLP-1–based therapies like once-weekly injectable semaglutide are offering hope and empowering people to take control of their health.

The hormone connection: Why willpower alone doesn’t work

For decades, weight loss was simplified to “calories in versus calories out.” But the body doesn’t work like a calculator. It works like an orchestra of hormones, signals and feedback loops.

One of the most crucial players is GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1), a hormone released from the gut that tells your brain you’re full, slows stomach emptying, and stabilises blood sugar.

But in many people with obesity, especially women experiencing PCOS, pregnancy-related changes, or menopause, these signals become blunted. You may eat enough, but your brain never quite gets the “full” message, leading to cravings, overeating, and emotional distress.

Semaglutide mimics the GLP-1 hormone, restoring this signalling. People feel fuller sooner, stay full longer, and experience fewer cravings. The medicine supports weight loss not by forcing willpower, but by correcting a biological pathway that wasn’t working properly. Doctors emphasise that semaglutide must be paired with a healthy diet and physical activity for the best long-term results.

What makes the treatment ecosystem in India especially significant now is the major legal and market shift underway: the Delhi High Court has allowed Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories to manufacture and export semaglutide after ruling that Novo Nordisk’s patent was “prima facie invalid.” This move could reset India’s fast-growing weight-loss and diabetes market by opening the door for more affordable generic versions. However, the company cannot sell the drug domestically until the patent expires in March 2026.

Obesity is a chronic disease, not a lifestyle failure

Explaining this shift, Dr Soumik Goswami, DM (Endocrinology), Faculty at the Dept. of Endocrinology, NRS Medical College, Kolkata and Consultant Endocrinologist (Manipal Hospitals) says “We should not view obesity as a lifestyle choice alone but treat it as a chronic disease. The conversation is no longer just about diet and exercise alone. We now have highly effective, scientifically proven tools that work effectively. For patients who qualify, treatments like once-weekly semaglutide are a game-changer, as it helps them achieve significant weight loss.”

Evidence is now stronger than ever.

The benefits of these new therapies go far beyond the weighing scale. Losing weight is just the beginning. The real victory is the dramatic improvement in overall health and the reduction in risk for other serious diseases. Obesity is a major driver of life-threatening conditions like heart attacks, strokes and certain cancers.

A landmark study published in The Lancet (2023) showed that semaglutide significantly improves markers of cardiometabolic health. The SELECT trial, one of the largest obesity studies globally, found that semaglutide reduced the risk of heart attack, stroke, or cardiovascular death by 20% in people with overweight or obesity and pre-existing heart disease.

Meanwhile, real-world data from the STEER study showed a 57% lower risk of major cardiovascular events compared to another anti-obesity medication. These findings reinforce that treating obesity is not about aesthetics, it is a lifesaving intervention.

Dr. Goswami says, “Patients often come to me feeling disappointed after years of on and off dieting. The GLP-1 based therapy offers a sustainable path forward. Like diabetes or high blood pressure, obesity requires long-term management.  We now have safe and effective options like once weekly semaglutide that help patients not only lose weight but keep it off, protecting their hearts and giving them a new lease of life.”

A shift from shame to empowerment

The narrative around obesity is finally changing. For decades, women carried the emotional burden of a condition rooted not in weakness, but in biology.

But with new therapies, scientific clarity and growing public awareness supported by WHO, ICMR and global research, the era of stigma is slowly giving way to empowerment.

In India, the court’s decision enabling generic production and export of semaglutide suggests that more affordable versions could soon expand access once domestic restrictions lift after March 2026, potentially reshaping obesity care by making treatment accessible beyond affluent urban centres.

The story of obesity is finally changing. The era of shame and blame is ending, replaced by an age of scientific understanding and empowerment. If you have been struggling with your weight, know that you are not alone and that real, effective help is now available. It’s time to stop suffering and start a new, healthier chapter. Talk to your doctor and ask if these new treatments could be right for you.