Health · Pharma & Biotech · 9 hrs ago
Taboos limit sales of weight-loss drugs in India despite obesity rates
Dozens of weight-loss drugs made in India have reached the market in recent months.
Companies expected strong sales, but demand has been much lower than forecast.
Sales of drugs containing GLP-1, a medicine ingredient used for weight loss, reached only 20% of the level predicted for the first half of 2026.
The drugs are being introduced in a country where obesity is widespread.
But some people may feel social pressure not to use weight-loss medicines.
Being fuller-bodied is also associated with happiness in some parts of Indian society.
These attitudes may be a bigger obstacle to sales than the cost of the drugs.
Doctors are also struggling to keep track of the many new products.
Sales of weight-loss drugs in India have fallen well short of expectations, despite the country having one of the world’s highest obesity rates.
Revenue from GLP-1 weight-loss drugs in the first half was 20% of forecasts made in 2025.
Dozens of Indian-made weight-loss drugs came onto the market in recent months.
Taboos around using the drugs and associations between being plump and happiness may be bigger barriers than price.
Doctors say they are struggling to keep track of the many new products.
- Who
- Indian drugmakers have launched weight-loss drugs, while doctors are struggling to keep track of them.
- What
- Sales of weight-loss drugs have fallen short of expectations.
- When
- Dozens of products came onto the market in recent months; revenue figures cover the first half.
- Where
- India.
- Why
- Taboos around using the drugs and associations between being plump and happiness may be barriers; price is not the only factor.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
It’s not just about the price.
Dozens of Indian-made weight-loss drugs came onto the market.
Revenue from GLP-1 weight-loss drugs reached 20% of forecasts made in 2025.
- GLP-1 drug revenue
- 20% of forecasts made in 2025
- New products
- Dozens of Indian-made weight-loss drugs launched in recent months
- Market
- India
- Sales barrier
- Taboos around using the drugs and associations between being plump and happiness
Sources
Related news
Baby Sleep Gripe Water Recalled After Alcohol Found in Testing
FDA Warns Amazon Over Unapproved Herpes Treatments
Possible Wrong Dose Raises Questions for PDE9 Drug Trials in Heart Failure
Experimental eye drops improve vision in a small study of a rare eye disease
Brazil suspends Peptistrong supplement and orders all batches recalled
FDA approves atezolizumab with chemotherapy for some stage III colon cancers
Review links drug company gifts to more and less appropriate prescribing
Roche reports year-long results for eye drug Vamikibart
Daily painkiller use can hide the cause of ongoing pain
Swiss oncologist warns US drug pricing pressure could delay cancer therapies
Spain withdraws El Toro supplement after detecting sildenafil
