UAE Health Experts Stress Lifestyle Changes Alongside GLP-1 Weight-Loss Drugs

Popular GLP-1 weight-loss medications like Mounjaro and Wegovy have revolutionized the treatment of obesity in the UAE, but medical professionals emphasize that they must be paired with lasting lifestyle changes to be truly effective.

Speaking at the three-day Dubai International Pharma and Technologies conference, health specialists highlighted the powerful impact of these appetite-suppressing drugs. Dr Mohammad Fityan, group chief medical officer at Burjeel Holdings, stressed during Wednesday's sessions that pharmaceuticals should never be viewed as a standalone solution.

“The medicine will give you 50 to 60 per cent of the solution; the other 40 to 50 per cent is on the patient,” Dr Fityan explained. By mimicking hormones that regulate appetite, GLP-1 medications help individuals feel full for extended periods.

Emphasizing the importance of lifestyle modifications, Dr Fityan noted that patients who adopt healthier habits alongside pharmacotherapy achieve better weight loss and long-term maintenance. Beyond diet and exercise, he highlighted that overall routines—including sleep duration and work shifts—are critical components of successful treatment. Furthermore, combining medication with healthy habits can significantly reduce the risk of hundreds of obesity-related illnesses and potentially reverse Type 2 diabetes.

To encourage adherence, some insurance providers are now tying financial reimbursement for obesity treatments to strict physical activity milestones. According to Dr Fityan, reimbursement systems linked directly to electronic medical records require patients to achieve goals such as walking 10,000 steps daily to qualify for coverage.

During the event, experts underscored that obesity remains a critical public health challenge, with global prevalence expected to reach 18 percent by 2031. With UAE obesity rates historically exceeding global averages, tackling the issue offers profound benefits. A recent analysis by Whiteshield and Eli Lilly indicated that helping 1.2 million people in the UAE overcome obesity could extend healthy lifespans by 6.8 years, potentially reducing national obesity figures from roughly 32 percent down closer to the 18 percent global average while saving $1.5 billion in healthcare expenditures.