Anti-Obesity Drugs Market – Global Industry Size, Share, trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Mechanism (Peripherally Acting Drugs, Centrally Acting Drugs), By Drug Type (Prescription Drugs, OTC Drugs), By Region & Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 3.21 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	16.54%
Fastest Growing Segment	Prescription Drugs
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 8.04 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Anti-Obesity Drugs Market will grow from USD 3.21 Billion in 2025 to USD 8.04 Billion by 2031 at a 16.54% CAGR. The Global Anti-Obesity Drugs Market encompasses pharmaceutical formulations designed to facilitate weight reduction and maintenance by influencing appetite regulation, metabolic processes, or nutrient absorption. This sector is currently experiencing robust growth driven by the escalating prevalence of chronic weight-related disorders and the increasing acceptance of pharmacotherapy as a viable treatment for comorbidities like type 2 diabetes. According to the World Obesity Federation, in 2025, updated projections indicated that the total number of adults living with obesity globally is expected to reach 1.13 billion by 2030, highlighting the critical need for effective medical interventions.

However, a substantial challenge hindering broader market expansion is the prohibitive cost of novel therapeutics combined with inadequate insurance reimbursement policies in many regions. These financial barriers often limit patient accessibility to long-term treatment regimens and may decelerate the adoption of advanced weight management solutions across lower-income populations.

Key Market Drivers

The escalating global prevalence of obesity and overweight demographics serves as the primary catalyst for market expansion, necessitating urgent therapeutic interventions to mitigate public health burdens. This surge represents a deepening metabolic crisis driving demand for pharmaceutical solutions capable of addressing severe weight-related complications. As healthcare systems grapple with the clinical weight of this epidemic, the focus has shifted towards medical management to prevent life-threatening conditions. According to the World Obesity Federation, March 2025, in the 'World Obesity Atlas 2025', overweight and obesity are responsible for approximately 1.6 million premature deaths annually from non-communicable diseases, underscoring the imperative for effective pharmacological treatments.

Concurrently, the commercial success and high clinical efficacy of incretin-based therapies have significantly transformed the sector, establishing a new standard of care that regulates appetite and metabolic function. The substantial weight loss outcomes achieved by these biologics have validated pharmacotherapy for weight management, resulting in surging prescription volumes and robust revenue growth. This commercial viability is reshaping industry strategies, prompting competitors to accelerate the development of next-generation agonists. According to Novo Nordisk, February 2025, in the 'Annual Report 2024', sales of its Obesity Care products increased by 57 percent to DKK 65.1 billion, reflecting immense patient demand. Further supporting this growth trajectory, according to Fierce Pharma, December 2024, in the 'Novo Nordisk keeps manufacturing expansion spree rolling' article, the company committed an additional DKK 2.9 billion to expand its quality control capabilities in Denmark.

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Key Market Challenges

The high cost of novel anti-obesity medications, often exceeding thousands of dollars annually, combined with restrictive insurance policies, acts as a severe brake on market acceleration. Payers and health insurers, fearing the financial strain of widespread utilization, have implemented stringent gatekeeping measures such as complex prior authorization requirements and strict body mass index thresholds. This reimbursement landscape creates a significant disconnect between clinical demand and commercial access, effectively excluding a vast demographic of patients who are medically eligible but financially unable to afford out-of-pocket expenses. Consequently, the market is witnessing a suppressed adoption rate where the uptake of these advanced therapies is confined largely to affluent populations or those with premium health plans.

According to the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy, in 2025, industry data revealed that on average, only 31% of commercial plan members possessed coverage for anti-obesity medications, with payers citing the high budget impact as the primary barrier to broader reimbursement. This limited coverage forces the majority of potential patients to face prohibitive costs alone, directly reducing sales volume and preventing the market from reaching its full revenue potential. By restricting access to a fraction of the total addressable market, these financial barriers significantly curtail the growth trajectory of the global anti-obesity sector.

Key Market Trends

The Development of Combination Therapies to Enhance Tolerability and Efficacy is becoming a dominant market force as developers seek to surpass the clinical ceilings of mono-agonist treatments. Pharmaceutical companies are increasingly co-formulating agents with complementary mechanisms of action, such as combining GLP-1 analogues with amylin analogues, to synergistically improve metabolic outcomes while mitigating adverse events. This strategic shift aims to deliver deeper weight reduction that rivals bariatric surgery. According to Novo Nordisk, December 2024, in the 'CagriSema demonstrates superior weight loss in adults with obesity or overweight in the REDEFINE 1 trial' announcement, the investigational fixed-dose combination of cagrilintide and semaglutide achieved a superior weight loss of 22.7% after 68 weeks, significantly outperforming individual monotherapies.

Simultaneously, the Transition Towards Oral Small Molecule Formulations is reshaping the sector by addressing the scalability and compliance limitations of injectable biologics. Unlike peptide-based injectables that require complex cold-chain logistics, small molecule drugs can be manufactured more cost-effectively and administered as convenient daily pills, potentially broadening patient access and adherence. This formulation evolution is rapidly advancing through clinical pipelines, offering a non-invasive alternative for long-term weight management. According to Viking Therapeutics, November 2024, in the 'Viking Therapeutics Shares New VK2735 Obesity Program Data at ObesityWeek 2024' press release, the company reported that patients receiving the highest dose of its oral tablet formulation achieved a mean body weight reduction of up to 8.2% after just 28 days of treatment.

Segmental Insights

The Prescription Drugs segment is currently the fastest-growing category within the Global Anti-Obesity Drugs Market, driven by the widespread adoption of high-efficacy therapeutic options such as GLP-1 receptor agonists. This growth is primarily fueled by superior clinical outcomes compared to historical treatments, prompting increased reliance on pharmacotherapy by healthcare providers. Regulatory bodies, including the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), have played a pivotal role by authorizing these medications for chronic weight management, thereby validating their safety and effectiveness. Consequently, the rising global prevalence of obesity continues to accelerate demand for these clinically approved interventions.

Regional Insights

North America maintains a dominant position in the global anti-obesity drugs market, primarily driven by the rising prevalence of chronic weight management issues and a well-established healthcare infrastructure. The region benefits from the strong presence of key pharmaceutical manufacturers and high patient awareness regarding available treatments. Furthermore, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration plays a critical role in facilitating market growth through the approval of novel therapeutics. Comprehensive reimbursement policies and robust investment in research and development further support this leadership, ensuring sustained demand for weight management medications across the United States and Canada.

Recent Developments

• In December 2024, Eli Lilly and Company received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for Zepbound (tirzepatide) as a treatment for adults with moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea and obesity. This regulatory milestone established the drug as the first prescription medication authorized for this specific respiratory indication. The approval was based on data from the Phase 3 SURMOUNT-OSA clinical trials, which demonstrated that the treatment significantly reduced the frequency of irregular breathing events during sleep. In the studies, patients treated with the medication achieved a substantial reduction in the apnea-hypopnea index compared to those receiving a placebo.
• In May 2024, Roche reported positive data from a Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating CT-388, a dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist that the company acquired through its purchase of Carmot Therapeutics. The results showed that a once-weekly subcutaneous injection of the drug resulted in a mean placebo-adjusted weight loss of 18.8% in healthy adults with obesity over a period of 24 weeks. The Chief Medical Officer of Roche described the weight loss as clinically meaningful and noted that the therapy successfully normalized blood glucose levels in all participants with pre-diabetes, supporting the decision to progress the candidate into Phase 2 development.
• In March 2024, Novo Nordisk presented promising Phase 1 trial data for its experimental oral obesity drug, amycretin, during a strategic update to investors. The early-stage study results indicated that the oral co-agonist of GLP-1 and amylin receptors led to a 13.1% reduction in body weight in participants after 12 weeks of treatment, compared to a 1.1% loss for those on a placebo. The company highlighted that the safety profile of amycretin was consistent with its previous incretin-based therapies. Following these findings, the company confirmed plans to advance the oral formulation into further clinical development stages to expand its obesity pipeline.
• In February 2024, Viking Therapeutics announced positive top-line results from its Phase 2 VENTURE clinical trial of VK2735, a dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist developed for the potential treatment of metabolic disorders such as obesity. The study successfully met its primary and all secondary endpoints, demonstrating that patients receiving weekly subcutaneous doses of the drug experienced statistically significant reductions in body weight compared to a placebo. After 13 weeks of treatment, participants achieved mean weight losses of up to 14.7% from baseline. The company reported that the medication was well-tolerated, with the majority of adverse events categorized as mild or moderate gastrointestinal issues.

Key Market Players

• Alizyme PLC
• Bayer AG
• Bristol-Myers Squibb Co
• Currax Pharmaceuticals LLC
• Hoffmann-La Roche AG
• GlaxoSmithKline PLC
• Merck & Co. Inc.
• Norgine BV
• Novo Nordisk AS
• Pfizer Inc

By Mechanism	By Drug Type	By Region
Peripherally Acting Drugs Centrally Acting Drugs	Prescription Drugs OTC Drugs	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Anti-Obesity Drugs Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Anti-Obesity Drugs Market, By Mechanism:

• Peripherally Acting Drugs
• Centrally Acting Drugs

• Anti-Obesity Drugs Market, By Drug Type:

• Prescription Drugs
• OTC Drugs

• Anti-Obesity Drugs Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE