Recognised by the World Health Organisation, obesity is a serious, progressive and chronic disease.
However, obesity is widely misunderstood and considered a lifestyle choice – influenced by how much you eat and how little you move. In truth, most people living with overweight/obesity have many reasons for their excess weight. It is influenced by a range of factors including genetics, metabolism, psychological and environmental factors.
Through our research and work in this space, we aim to unravel these complexities, understand why some individuals are predisposed to obesity, identify factors that increase the risk of related complications and develop targeted interventions for the benefit of millions living with this disease.
Our mission
At Novo Nordisk, treating – and ultimately, preventing – obesity is central to our enduring purpose of driving change to defeat serious chronic diseases. By collaborating with healthcare providers, researchers and public health organisations, we aim to implement comprehensive strategies that reduce the prevalence of obesity, enhance care for people living with overweight/obesity and promote long term health.
Obesity is influenced by a wide range of factors beyond just genetic predispositions. Various aspects of an individual's general well-being, environment and lifestyle play a significant role in weight gain and developing obesity.
Obesity is not just a standalone health concern; it significantly increases the risk of other serious diseases, such as diabetes, heart and liver diseases and certain types of cancers. People living with obesity often face social stigma, discrimination and bias, which can limit their opportunities, hinder their progress and lead to mental health challenges like anxiety and depression.
For over 100 years, our company has been at the forefront of developing treatments for diabetes. Now, building on more than 25 years of obesity research, we are pioneering the medical management of obesity.
We are uncovering more about the naturally occurring GLP-1 hormone and the role it plays in achieving successful weight loss.
Our scientists have studied how synthetic GLP-1 molecules can be used to suppress appetite, increase energy expenditure and spur long-lasting weight loss.
Our goal is to provide a broad portfolio of innovative and solutions to support the growing number of people with obesity as part of their long-term journey towards better health.
Are you living with overweight/obesity or know someone who is? Our patient support site, Truth About Weight, provides more information on obesity and resources to manage it.
Continuing to deepen and expand our civil society partnerships to prevent obesity, we seek to understand what interventions work at a local level and scale what we learn to a global level, supporting the crucial work of the many others committed to preventing obesity.
We have created a Transformational Prevention Unit with a mission to stop the global rise in obesity and reverse the trend. This unit will explore new commercial models and multi-sector collaborations in the search for novel, holistic and personalised obesity solutions.
Learn more: Prevention
