2025 Trends & Predictions: The Future of Weight Management and Longevity
The New Era of Weight Management: GLP-1 and Beyond
The weight management industry is undergoing a revolution, driven by the rise of GLP-1 receptor agonists like Ozempic. These drugs, originally developed for diabetes, have become synonymous with effective weight loss, sparking widespread interest in their potential health benefits. As David noted, “For the first time in decades, obesity rates in the US may be declining, potentially influenced by these drugs and a cultural shift around food and weight loss.”
However, GLP-1 agonists are not without challenges. They require injections, are prescription-only in most countries, and can lead to muscle loss alongside fat reduction. “Consumers and companies alike are looking for oral, freely available alternatives that replicate GLP-1’s benefits without its drawbacks,” explained David.
For the natural products industry, this has created a surge of interest in naturally derived bioactives that mimic GLP-1’s effects. Jessica Evans, Senior Business Development Manager, commented, “In the past 12-18 months, the majority of people we have spoken to within this industry are focused on finding natural ingredients that achieve the same goal as GLP-1 receptor agonists without the unwanted side effects.”
Meanwhile, biotech and pharmaceutical companies are taking a different approach, investigating combination therapies that counteract the muscle loss associated with GLP-1 treatments. “Protecting muscle mass during weight loss is crucial for the success of GLP-1 treatments – and a key focus for industry research and funding” explained Jessica.
A promising area of exploration is nutrient sensing and insulin resistance, both of which are critical for understanding and addressing obesity biology. Dr Mireya Vazquez-Prada, Commercial Research Scientist at Magnitude Biosciences, emphasized, “Nutrient sensing and insulin resistance are big focus areas, with a lot of attention on how these mechanisms contribute to weight management.”
Recent scientific studies further highlight the complexity of metabolic health. One paper reveals that fat cells retain a “memory” of past obesity, influencing health outcomes even after weight loss. Another study demonstrates how sugar exposure during the first three years of life predicts susceptibility to chronic diseases later on. Mireya explained, “These findings underline the importance of early-life nutrition and its long-term effects on health. There’s growing interest in exploring these phenomena further, especially in relation to maternal and generational effects. As much as metabolic health is about ‘playing the long game,’ evidence is also pointing to critical windows that set one up for success.”
Trends in Health and Longevity
It is predicted that 16% of the global population will be aged 65 years or older by 2050. Research into ageing and longevity has gained significant momentum over the past decade. 2024, in particular, has seen increased resources and funds directed toward identifying and developing new drugs, as well as repurposing existing drugs, for their potential benefit in longevity. Many age-related diseases are suggested to share common underlying causes, making this a promising area of research.
C. elegans, which shares 60-80% homology with humans, provides a powerful tool to investigate these effects. Testing candidate compounds in this model can provide valuable insights into “healthspan”—the period of life spent in good health. Dr Sophia Quigley, Research Scientist at Magnitude Biosciences, noted, “The rise in funding for ageing and longevity research is encouraging, but it is crucial that we continue to test the effects of these candidate drugs and supplements on healthspan.”
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