Evidence of excessive body weight can already be found in ancient writings – but the cause remained unclear for millennia. For a long time, being overweight was seen as a lack of discipline. Those who suffered from the condition were ridiculed or ostracized. It was not until the 20th century that medicine began to recognize obesity for what it is: a complex, chronic disease with multiple causes¹.

First scientific milestones

In the 19th century, researchers first discovered correlations between metabolism, hormones and body weight. For a long time, however, there was a lack of understanding of the complex mechanisms in the human body. A genuine breakthrough finally came in 1994:
The discovery of the hormone leptin – a neurotransmitter that regulates the body’s fat reserves via the feeling of hunger – marked a turning point².

Further research revealed that not only leptin, but also hormones such as ghrelin and GLP-1, play a key role in controlling hunger and satiety³. These findings fundamentally changed the understanding of obesity: The disease was no longer regarded merely as the consequence of a weak will, but as a medical problem.

A new approach via hormone-based therapies

While diet and exercise used to be the only treatment options, the discovery of GLP-1 receptor agonists revolutionized the treatment of obesity. These are medications that specifically intervene in the hormonal control of appetite. They mimic the effect of the natural intestinal hormone GLP-1, which is secreted after eating and signals to the body that it is full,
thereby reducing the feeling of hunger and lowering food intake. Originally developed to control blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes, it soon became apparent that these active substances not only influence sugar metabolism, but also eating habits⁴.

By increasing their natural feeling of satiety and slowing gastric emptying, patients were able to significantly and sustainably reduce their weight – a breakthrough that for the first time offered hope in a drug treatment for obesity.

Medical advances make their way into everyday life

In Switzerland, the new therapies were introduced step-by-step. Swissmedic approved the first active substances for weight loss back in 2016. These caused an average weight reduction of 15 to 20% – an order of magnitude previously only achievable with surgical procedures⁴. They also significantly reduce the risk of concomitant diseases such as diabetes, heart attack and certain types of cancer³.

Compulsory health insurance in Switzerland recently, and under strict conditions, began covering the costs of these treatments – marking a milestone in patient care⁵.

A glimpse into the future

Research, however, is not at a standstill. New combination therapies, such as GLP-1/GIP dual agonists, show even better results in studies, with patients losing up to 22% of their body weight [6]. In the future, precision medicine – based on genetic, metabolic and individual profiles – could make treatment even more targeted and effective³.

Innovations such as orally administered GLP-1 therapies or implantable systems for continuous release of the active substance are already in the development stage.

Social change through medical research

What used to be perceived primarily as a personal failure is now being re-evaluated. Medical advances have permanently changed the picture of obesity, away from a stigma towards an acknowledged chronic disease that is treatable.

For the millions of people affected this not only results in better health, but also improves quality of life and participation in society. At the same time, successful therapies also relieve the burden on healthcare systems in the long term by reducing secondary diseases and the associated costs¹. We keep researching.

¹ Federal Statistical Office (FSO). Body weight and health in Switzerland. Neuchâtel, 2022.
² Friedman JM, Halaas JL. Leptin and the regulation of body weight in mammals. Nature. 1998.
³ Müller TD et al. Obesity pharmacotherapy: what we have, what we need, and what’s next. Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2022.
⁴ Wilding JPH et al. Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity. N Engl J Med. 2021.
⁵ Swissmedic. Product information Saxenda® and Wegovy®.
⁶Jastreboff AM et al. Tirzepatide Once Weekly for the Treatment of Obesity. N Engl J Med. 2022.