Chronic Wound Segment, by Wound Type to Account Largest Share in Anti-obesity Drugs Market during 2025-2031

According to our new research study on "Anti-obesity Drugs Market Forecast to 2031 - Global Analysis - by Type, Drug Class, Application, Route of Administration, Distribution Channel, and Geography," the market was valued at US$ 15.85 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach US$ 177.27 billion by 2031; it is expected to register a CAGR of 35.3% during 2025-2031. The mounting prevalence of obesity and increased awareness and demand for weight management solutions are contributing to the growing anti-obesity drugs market size. However, the side effects and safety concerns hamper the anti-obesity drugs market growth. Further, expansion in emerging economies methods is expected to bring in new anti-obesity drugs market trends in the coming years.

Anti-obesity Drugs Market Analysis

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the global prevalence of obesity more than doubled between 1990 and 2022. In 2022, 2.5 billion adults aged 18 and older were overweight, with over 890 million classified as obese: this equates to 43% of adults (43% of men and 44% of women), up from 25% in 1990. Overweight prevalence varied by region, with rates as low as 31% in the WHO South-East Asia and African Regions and reaching up to 67% in the Region of the Americas. Reducing obesity rates could alleviate the economic burden associated with the disease. According to the World Obesity Atlas, the total costs related to obesity-including healthcare and economic productivity losses-are expected to exceed US$ 4 trillion by 2035, accounting for approximately 3% of global GDP from US$1.96 trillion in 2020. Thus, the rising obesity rates and awareness of associated health risks, such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and certain types of cancer, fuel demand for anti-obesity drugs.

Anti-obesity Drugs Market Report Scope

The anti-obesity drugs market analysis has been carried out by considering the following segments: type, drug class, application, route of administration, and distribution channel, and geography.

Based on type, the anti-obesity drugs market is bifurcated into prescription and OTC. The prescription segment held the largest share of the market in 2024. Anti-obesity prescription medications aid in weight loss in patients with obesity (BMI ?30) or those who are overweight (BMI ?27) with associated comorbid conditions such as hypertension or type 2 diabetes. The drugs are effective when they are combined with exercise and diet. According to the National Institutes of Health, on average, at 1 year, adults on prescription medication as part of a lifestyle program lose 3%-12% more initial body weight than individuals in a lifestyle program without medication. Fewer data exist for children 12 years and older, but the ranges seem similar. The FDA has authorized six of these medications-orlistat (Alli, Xenical), phentermine-topiramate (Qsymia), naltrexone-bupropion (Contrave), liraglutide (Saxenda), semaglutide (Wegovy), and tirzepatide (Zepbound)-for chronic use. Four of these medications are approved for use in children aged 12 years and older and adults. Another approved medication, setmelanotide (IMCIVREE), is reserved for individuals who have been diagnosed with one of four particular rare genetic diseases such as Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS), POMC deficiency, PCSK1 deficiency, and leptin receptor (LEPR) deficiency, which must be verified through genetic testing.

The established efficacy of GLP-1 treatments has fueled a boom in pharmaceutical development and investment, with new therapies in the pipeline. In March 2025, Roche and Zealand Pharma signed an exclusive collaboration to co-develop and co-commercialize petrelintide, an amylin analog, as a single agent and in combination with Roche's lead incretin compound, CT-388.

Growing rates of obesity worldwide, elevated public awareness, and greater acceptance of medical weight loss options are driving demand. To capitalize on this momentum, players in the market are seeking strategic partnerships. In April 2025, Hims & Hers, a direct-to-consumer telehealth company, partnered with Novo Nordisk to provide a bundled option featuring access to Wegovy-Novo Nordisk's top obesity medication-along with a Hims & Hers membership, with prices beginning at US$ 599 per month. The strategy represents a move toward aligned, consumer-facing care models within the emerging obesity treatment landscape.

By drug class, the anti-obesity drugs market is segmented into GLP-7 agonists, lipase inhibitors, MC4R agonists, and others. The GLP-7 Agonist segment held the largest share of the market in 2024. GLP-1 agonists segment further subsegmented into Semaglutide, Liraglutide, Tirzepatide.

The increasing use of GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonists has transformed the weight management therapy landscape. Originally designed for type 2 diabetes, semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and liraglutide (Saxenda) have proven effective in facilitating weight loss by increasing satiety, slowing gastric emptying, and inhibiting appetite through central nervous system mechanisms. These drugs have become well established in the marketplace as a result of their two-in-one value-treating obesity and its related comorbidities, such as cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome. As obesity incidence rises globally, the need for non-surgical pharmacological treatments is surging, supported by positive regulatory frameworks, shifting treatment recommendations, and rising awareness. Pharmaceutical companies are responding by stepping up R&D and forming strategic partnerships to enhance their pipeline of therapeutics. In November 2023, AstraZeneca entered into an exclusive license agreement with Eccogene to develop ECC5004, an oral, once-daily GLP-1RA for obesity and obesity-related conditions. In January 2025, Novo Nordisk announced positive Phase 1b/2a results for amycretin, a once-weekly subcutaneous dual GLP-1/amylin receptor agonist. Likewise, strategic partnerships are defining market development. In October 2024, Amneal Pharmaceuticals and Metsera partnered on the broad-scale development of new weight-loss medications. In March 2025, OPKO Health and Entera Bio partnered to develop the first oral dual GLP-1/glucagon agonist.

Based on application, the anti-obesity drugs market is categorized into appetite suppression, inhibition of fat absorption/digestive enzymes, metabolic enhancement, and combination. The appetite suppression segment held a largest share of the market in 2024. Pharmaceutical firms are developing and marketing new therapies to treat the worldwide obesity crisis. In May 2025, Novo Nordisk's oral formulation of Wegovy (semaglutide) gained the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval, a breakthrough in chronic weight management therapies. The oral form is designed to provide patients with a more convenient alternative to injectable therapy, possibly improving accessibility and compliance. In April 2025, Eli Lilly's oral GLP-1 receptor agonist, orforglipron, showed promising results in early trials, offering another possible route for appetite suppression in weight management. Increased attention to appetite suppression therapies signals a broader movement toward the treatment of obesity via pharmacologic means for blocking hunger-reducing mechanisms, thus preserving weight loss and improving patient outcomes.

In terms of route of administration, the anti-obesity drugs market is bifurcated into oral and parenteral. The oral segment dominated the market in 2024. The oral route of administration is fueling the demand for anti-obesity medicines, with Xenical (orlistat), Contrave (naltrexone/bupropion), and Qsymia (phentermine/topiramate) taking the front line owing to their ease of administration, compliance, and ease of access. Xenical, a lipase inhibitor, prevents the absorption of dietary fat and is available on prescription and over the counter as Alli, an easily accessible commodity for consumers. Contrave pairs an opioid antagonist and an antidepressant to reduce cravings and appetite, providing a two-pronged approach that targets neurological and behavioral factors of obesity. Qsymia, which contains phentermine and extended-release topiramate, is a combination of an appetite suppressant/stimulant and a medication used to treat seizures. It is prescribed to support long-term weight management in overweight and obese adults, alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. These oral medications are gaining popularity worldwide as non-surgical or non-injectable solutions. In March 2024, Taisho Pharmaceutical introduced Alli (orlistat) as the first over-the-counter oral anti-obesity drug in Japan. In January 2025, Currax Pharmaceuticals initiated the first TV ad campaign for Contrave, seeking to raise public awareness of its benefits in appetite control. Vivus has strengthened Qsymia's worldwide presence by getting market approval within the UAE in 2023. These developments underscore the efforts of the industry to improve awareness and access to oral anti-obesity medication, reaffirming their central place in the emerging weight management era.

Per distribution channel, the anti-obesity drugs market is categorized into hospital pharmacies, online channel, and retail pharmacies. The hospital pharmacies segment dominated the market in 2024. Hospital pharmacies are spearheading the development of anti-obesity drugs through specialized, clinically monitored dispensing of high-tech pharmacotherapies. They make sure the controlled distribution of Wegovy, Saxenda, Zepbound, and Imcivree is commonly applied in complicated conditions with comorbidities such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease. Cleveland Clinic (US), King's College Hospital (UK), Singapore General Hospital (Singapore), and Apollo Hospitals (India) are incorporating hospital pharmacy services into multidisciplinary programs for the treatment of obesity. These environments deliver the medications, extensive patient education, frequent monitoring, and compliance support. The Obesity Centre of Singapore General Hospital utilizes hospital pharmacy protocols to oversee long-term pharmacotherapy. At the same time, Apollo's bariatric care units include in-house pharmacists to monitor anti-obesity medication regimes. Such consolidation maximizes patient outcomes and security. The rising prevalence of obesity is propelling hospital pharmacies to provide cost-effective and professionally guided treatments.

Novo Nordisk AS, Eli Lilly and Co, GSK Plc, Rhythm Pharmaceuticals Inc, Currax Pharmaceuticals LLC., VIVUS LLC, AdvaCare Pharma USA LL, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, and F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd are among the leading companies operating in the global anti-obesity drugs market.

Companies operating in the anti-obesity drugs market adopt various organic and inorganic strategies. Organic strategies mainly include product launches and product approvals. Acquisitions, collaborations, and partnerships are among the inorganic growth strategies witnessed in the anti-obesity drugs market. These growth strategies allow the market players to expand their businesses and enhance their geographic presence, thereby contributing to the overall anti-obesity drugs market growth. Further, acquisition and partnership strategies help them strengthen their customer base and expand their product portfolios.

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