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01/05/2026

Obesity, GLP-1s and the Bigger Goal of Metabolic Health

Obesity has become one of the world’s most serious public health challenges. According to McKinsey Health Institute research, nearly 900 million adults now live with obesity globally. Over the past 50 years, obesity rates have risen sharply and the impact is significant. Obesity increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, some cancers, dementia, depression and other chronic conditions. The goal is not simply to live longer. It is to add healthier, stronger and more active years to life.
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Written by Adapted for Younger Longer from McKinsey Health Institute research by Anas El Turabi, Drew Ungerman, Hemant Ahlawat and Lars Hartenstein, with contribution from Cary Mei and the broader McKinsey Health Institute team.
Obesity, GLP-1s and the Bigger Goal of Metabolic Health

Obesity, GLP-1s and the Bigger Goal of Metabolic Health

Obesity has become one of the world’s most serious public health challenges. According to McKinsey Health Institute research, nearly 900 million adults now live with obesity globally. Over the past 50 years, obesity rates have risen sharply and the impact is significant. Obesity increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, some cancers, dementia, depression and other chronic conditions.

The causes are complex. Obesity is not simply about individual choice or willpower. It is influenced by biology, genetics, food environments, physical inactivity, mental health, socioeconomic conditions and the way modern communities are designed. This is why blaming individuals is not only unfair, it also prevents better solutions.

New weight management medications such as GLP-1 receptor agonists have changed the conversation. These drugs can help some people lose substantial weight by increasing feelings of fullness, slowing digestion and supporting better blood glucose regulation. They may also offer benefits for cardiovascular and kidney health in some patients. However, they are not a magic solution. Questions remain about long-term use, side effects, access, cost, muscle loss, behavioural change and whether weight loss can be sustained over time.

Logic suggests that society has two broad choices.

The first is to focus mainly on treating obesity once it occurs, using medications, surgery, clinical weight management programs and healthcare support. This can help many people and should remain part of the solution.

However, the second and more ambitious path is the one espoused here at Younger Longer and that is to focus on metabolic health for everyone.

This means looking beyond weight and BMI to include blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol, kidney function, body composition, fitness, nutrition, sleep, stress and overall lifestyle. This approach aims to prevent disease before it develops and make healthier choices easier, more affordable and more accessible for all communities.

For Younger Longer, the key message is clear.

Weight management matters, but true health is bigger than weight alone. A healthy future will require better food systems, more active communities, improved health education, smarter technology, fair access to care and less stigma. Medications may play an important role, but the real opportunity is to help people build stronger metabolic health across the lifespan.

The goal is not simply to live longer. It is to add healthier, stronger and more active years to life.

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