Use of Semaglutide for the Treatment of Overweight and Obesity
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Use of Semaglutide for the Treatment of Overweight and Obesity
Introduction
Obesity continues to be one of the most prevalent health problems worldwide. According
to CDC, the criteria for being overweight is a BMI of more than 25 and more than 30 obesity.
(CDC, 2021). It was estimated by World Health Organization (WHO) that adults affected by
obesity in 2016 were 650 million and almost 2 billion overweight worldwide. Those statistics
continue to grow and the COVID-19 pandemic may have worsened this problem. In 2020, Obese
individuals were noted to have a higher risk of death when infected with Covid-19. It is
estimated that by 2030 in the US, 1 in 4 adults will have severe obesity. (WHO, 2016)
Obesity is considered a chronic disease that continues to relapse throughout an adult’s
lifetime and usually starts in childhood. It is a common health problem that is not considered
serious by many. It is associated with chronic diseases such as Hypertension, High-Cholesterol,
Type 2 Diabetes, Sleep disorders, and some types of Cancer among others. Poor mental health
can also be an outcome of Obesity leading to depression. It affects almost every organ in the
body, eventually leading to an increase in morbidity and mortality rate and ultimately
significantly impacting healthcare costs. (Bergmann et al, 2022). Approximately $147 billion per
year is spent on healthcare costs related to obesity (CDC, 2021). Over the next 10 years, it is
projected that half of the population will be obese.
(Finkelstein et al, 2012).
