COULD A PILL REALLY HELP US LOSE WEIGHT?

Cutting-edge weight-loss treatments might be around the corner. But can they end obesity?

The way we think about obesity has undergone a profound shift in recent years. Previously viewed as an individual lifestyle choice, it is now recognised as a complex disease influenced by genetics, biology, psychosocial factors and the environment. We also know that it affects a huge proportion of people. The World Health Organization estimates that nearly two billion adults are overweight or obese, with numbers now soaring dramatically in low-, middle- and high-income countries alike.

This is a major problem: excess body fat (adipose tissue) increases the risk of diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, dementia, cancer, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and kidney failure.

Fortunately, recent discoveries are helping us understand more about obesity. For instance, over the past 30 years, we have learned that energy balance and eating behaviour are regulated not in the stomach, but in the brain. Scientists have discovered hundreds of genes that affect our bodies' weight regulation, some of which predispose us to obesity. We also know that maintaining weight loss is difficult for a lot of people because of the body's natural responses: weight loss causes our metabolisms to slow down and hunger hormones to increase. This evolving understanding has driven significant efforts to find effective treatments for people living with obesity, who are often stigmatised and discriminated against.

Traditionally, weight-loss strategies have been based on either surgery or lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise. Surgery can be an effective option, but it's not without risks, and can potentially have long-term or irreversible effects. It's also expensive, and availability is limited.