This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Patients should speak with their health care providers about treatment and care options.
Obesity is one of the most complex health challenges of our time. Not only is it related to over 200 comorbidities, such as hypertension, heart failure and diabetes, but it is also a highly heterogeneous disease — something research and clinical practice are only beginning to fully understand.¹,2,³
At Roche, thanks to our pharmaceutical and diagnostics divisions being under the same roof, exciting collaborations are taking place to reimagine how we approach obesity and metabolic care as a whole. The goal is to move beyond treating people with these conditions and instead provide holistic, personalized and long-term support from early diagnosis and treatment through to monitoring.
The challenge and opportunity of sustained weight loss
The worldwide prevalence of obesity more than doubled between 1990 and 2022 and it is increasingly recognized as one of the most pressing health issues of our time.4
While lifestyle changes (such as diet and exercise) can drive weight loss, the level of sustainable weight loss required to change the risks associated with obesity is approximately 10% to 15% of a person’s total body weight, which cannot be reached and maintained by many people without additional medical therapies.5
Another frequently underestimated factor is the stigma and language around obesity that can also act as a significant barrier to people with the condition accessing and maintaining treatments.6 Over 60% of people living with obesity report experiencing “weight stigma” as part of their journey, which can further increase their distress, impacting both their physical and psychological health.6
So, what does the future of care look like? Is it possible to take a course of treatment and maintain the weight loss in the long-term? Could obesity, like diabetes or cardiovascular diseases, require lifelong treatment? Or could new mechanisms of action help permanently “reset” the body’s metabolic set point? The answer may lie in a combination of these — and more.
A new era of care
The future of care for people with obesity and its many related comorbidities lies at the intersection of biology, technology and human behavior. By combining the strengths of pharmaceuticals and diagnostics, Roche is working to build a system designed to transform the care of metabolic diseases from the moment a person with obesity presents, because it has the ability to create a holistic, personalized understanding of each person’s unique situation.
To read the full story on changing the trajectory of obesity,
visit Roche at:
https://www.roche.com/stories/obesity-change-trajectory
This documentary is part of the FIP: Pharmacy for All series, produced by Special Interest Films. Project commissioned and funded by Roche.
© 2026 F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. All rights reserved.
References
1. World Obesity. 2023. Economic impact of overweight and obesity to surpass $4 trillion by 2035. Available at: https://www.worldobesity.org/news/economic-impact-of-overweight-and-obesity to-surpass-4-trillion-by-2035#:~:text=The%20majority%20of%20the%20global,is %20a%20chronic%2C%20relapsing%20disease
2. Rethink Obesity. 2024. Complications/comorbidities of obesity. Available at: https://www.rethinkobesity.global/global/en/weight-and-health/obesity-related-c omplications.html
3. World Heart Federation. 2025. World Heart Report 2025. Available at: https://world-heart-federation.org/report2025/
4. World Health Organization. 2025. Obesity and overweight. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight 5. Ryan DH, Yockey SR. Weight Loss and Improvement in Comorbidity: Differences at 5%, 10%, 15%, and Over. Curr Obes Rep. 2017 Jun;6(2):187-194. doi: 10.1007/s13679-017-0262-y. PMID: 28455679; PMCID: PMC5497590.
6. World Obesity. 2023. Weight Stigma. Available at: https://www.worldobesity.org/what-we-do/our-policy-priorities/weight-stigma#:~:t ext=Fear%20of%20stigma%20can%20lead,weight%20cycling%20and%20eating %20anxiety.