New treatments for obesity are showing promising results, with potential impacts on public health and the insurance industry, according to Munich Re’s latest Life Science Report. The report highlights the increasing prevalence of obesity and the potential of newer medications to reduce mortality and morbidity rates, influencing insurance risk assessment.
Obesity is a growing global health concern, with projections indicating that more than half of the world’s population will be overweight or obese by 2035. The number of obese children is expected to double within the next decade, leading to increased risks of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, sleep apnea, and obesity-related cancers.
“New obesity drugs have the potential to reduce mortality and morbidity and positively impact quality of life,” said Dr. Gina Guzman, vice president and chief medical director at Munich Re Life US. “They improve the health of patients and also have an impact on the insurance industry in the medium and long term.”
According to the new report, recent obesity medications have demonstrated significantly better outcomes than earlier treatments. In addition to weight loss, these drugs improve cardiovascular health and help manage other obesity-related conditions. Medical research suggests that Body Mass Index (BMI) alone is insufficient for assessing obesity risks, with newer digital tools providing a more comprehensive evaluation.
“Newer obesity drugs are changing the way we lose weight by achieving breakthrough effects that previous drugs have failed to achieve,” Guzman noted.
Munich Re’s analysis indicates that these medications could reduce mortality rates by 21% in individuals with non-severe obesity and by up to 40% in those with severe obesity within the US population over the next two decades. The reduction in obesity-related health issues may also affect claims related to critical illness and disability insurance policies.
“Medical research on these newer anti-obesity drugs has only revealed the tip of the iceberg regarding potential insurance implications, particularly in underwriting and pricing,” said Guzman.
Key findings of the report:
Will these new obesity drugs revolutionize healthcare? Let us know what you think.
