GLP-1 weight-loss medicines such as Mounjaro and Wegovy have transformed the treatment of obesity in the UAE, but health experts have warned that medication alone cannot provide a long-term solution.
Speaking at the three-day Dubai International Pharma and Technologies conference, medical specialists highlighted the growing impact of GLP-1 medicines, which work by mimicking hormones that regulate appetite and help patients feel fuller for longer.
Dr Mohammad Fityan, group chief medical officer at Burjeel Holdings, said the medicines could play an important role in helping people lose weight but should always be combined with lasting lifestyle changes.
“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 told the conference.
Experts said patients need to improve their diet, increase physical activity and develop healthier daily habits to achieve sustainable results. While GLP-1 medicines can significantly reduce hunger and support weight loss, maintaining those results depends heavily on changes made outside the doctor’s clinic.
The growing popularity of medicines such as Mounjaro and Wegovy reflects a major shift in the way obesity is treated. Once viewed primarily as a condition caused by poor lifestyle choices, obesity is increasingly recognised as a complex medical condition influenced by biological, environmental and behavioural factors.
However, doctors warned that patients should not view the medication as a quick fix. Without healthier eating habits, regular exercise and long-term behavioural changes, maintaining weight loss can become more difficult, particularly if medication is stopped.
The UAE has seen increasing demand for modern weight-management treatments as health authorities and medical providers focus on tackling obesity and related conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.
Experts at the Dubai conference said the most successful approach combines medical treatment with personalised support, nutrition guidance and regular physical activity.
As GLP-1 medicines continue to transform obesity care, health professionals say their greatest impact will come when patients use them as part of a broader commitment to long-term health and lifestyle change.
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