Phl lags in obesity policy as new weight-loss drug reaches patients

Public health experts are warning that the Philippines is falling behind regional peers in addressing obesity and diabetes, even as a new generation of medical treatments begins reaching local patients.

Doctors say national health messaging has changed little over the past two decades, continuing to emphasize broad advice to “eat less and move more,” despite rapid urbanization and the growth of sedentary work such as business process outsourcing. Many Filipinos now spend eight to 12 hours a day seated, while diets remain high in refined carbohydrates and ultra-processed foods.

“This is a structural and biological problem, not just a willpower issue,” said one endocrinologist. “Our policies have not caught up with how people actually live.”

The warning comes as tirzepatide, a next-generation obesity and diabetes medication, becomes available in select Philippine drugstores. The drug, developed by Eli Lilly, is the first to target two metabolic hormones involved in appetite and blood sugar regulation, marking a significant shift in treatment options for Filipino patients.

International clinical trials have shown average weight loss of up to 20 percent among patients with obesity, alongside substantial reductions in HbA1c levels for people with type 2 diabetes. Global guidance from the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology now supports the early use of such therapies for patients at high cardiovascular risk, in combination with lifestyle interventions.

Health officials note that more than four million Filipino adults are currently living with diabetes, a figure projected to rise sharply without stronger prevention and treatment strategies. Heart disease remains the country’s leading cause of death.

While neighboring countries such as Singapore and Thailand have implemented sugar taxes, enhanced nutrition labeling, and food subsidy programs, Philippine experts say a coordinated national obesity strategy remains absent.

“Tirzepatide gives us a powerful new tool,” one public health analyst said. “But without modern policies on food, cities, and healthcare access, the country will continue treating the consequences instead of preventing the disease.”