Defeating obesity takes cutting-edge science… and a bold purpose
Recognised as a disease by the World Health Organization, obesity is serious, progressive and chronic. It affects nearly one billion people worldwide.
We continue to learn more every day about the complexity and the science behind this disease. Researching how genes, metabolism and hormones work together is starting to show us why some people are more susceptible to obesity, and which factors increase the risk of developing obesity and its related complications.
Our mission
At Novo Nordisk, treating – and ultimately, preventing – obesity is central to our enduring purpose of driving change to defeat serious chronic diseases.
How do you defeat the obesity epidemic? You start by searching for solutions in places others don ’t think to look. Like the gut. In fact, for more than 30 years, Novo Nordisk has explored how native gut hormones communicate with the brain to regulate appetite.
Our pioneering discoveries produced today's breakthrough GLP-1 therapies and today we are relentlessly pursuing the next advances.
Today our scientists continue to study how synthetic GLP-1 molecules can be used to suppress appetite, increase energy expenditure and spur long-lasting weight loss. This research is leading to a broad portfolio of innovative solutions to support the long-term health of the growing number of people with obesity.
As part of our efforts, we engage the brightest scientific minds, wherever they are, because experience has shown us that asking unordinary questions is the key to unlocking surprising new solutions.
Obesity is a serious chronic disease
References:
A.M.A Adopts New Policies on Second Day of Voting at Annual Meeting. Obesity as a Disease. Available at: http://news.cision.com/american-medical-association/r/ama-adopts-new-policies-on-second-day-of-voting-at-annual-meeting,c9430649. Last accessed: September 2020.
Royal College of Physicians. RCP calls for obesity to be recognised as a disease. Available at: https://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/news/rcp-calls-obesity-be-recognised-disease#:~:text=The%20RCP%20is%20calling%20for,as%20being%20overweight%20or%20obese. Last accessed: September 2020.
Bray GA, Kim KK, Wilding JPH; World Obesity Federation. Obesity: a chronic relapsing progressive disease process. A position statement of the World Obesity Federation. Obes Rev. 2017 Jul;18(7):715-723.
The Obesity Society. The Obesity Society Updates Position on Obesity. New Statement Focuses on Obesity as a Chronic Disease. Available at: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-obesity-society-updates-position-on-obesity-300769218.html. Last accessed: September 2020.
650m people are currently living with obesity.
World Health Organization. Obesity and Overweight Factsheet no. 311. Available at: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs311/en/. Last accessed: September 2020
3x The global prevalence of obesity has more than doubled since 1975.
World Health Organization. Obesity and Overweight Factsheet no. 311. Available at: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs311/en/. Last accessed: September 2020
20%+ weight loss without surgery is our ambition for patients.
Novo Nordisk. Obesity: Obesity is a serious chronic disease. Available at: https://www.novonordisk.com/disease-areas/obesity.html. Last accessed: September 2020
$1.2tn is the expected global cost of treating obesity-related complications by 2025.
World Obesity Federation. Healthcare cost of consequences of high BMI. Available at: http://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/6599c5_2a8fa0968efd4854b74f399abb3078c0.pdf?index=true. Last accessed: September 2020
“studies show that only about one third of people successfully maintain their lost weight.”
Mann T, Tomiyama AJ, Westling E, Lew AM, Samuels B, Chatman J. Medicare's search for effective obesity treatments: diets are not the answer. Am Psychol. 2007 Apr;62(3):220-33.
In addition to biological factors, many aspects of a person's general well-being, environment and lifestyle can also cause weight gain. Where a person lives and the culture that surrounds them can influence their risk of developing obesity.
Obesity puts people at risk of developing other diseases, too, including diabetes, heart and liver diseases, cancers and many more. In addition, people living with obesity frequently face stigma, discrimination and mental health problems.
