Medical experts say the UAE's approval of a new oral obesity treatment reflects a major shift in how obesity is being addressed globally, from a lifestyle issue to a chronic disease requiring long-term medical care, early intervention and faster access to innovative therapies.
The Emirates Drug Establishment (EDE) approved the oral obesity treatment Foundayo (orforglipron), making the UAE the second country in the world to authorise the drug.
The once-daily oral treatment is intended for chronic weight management and represents a new category of obesity therapies that do not require injections. The approval comes as obesity rates continue to rise around the world.
A global study published in The Lancet highlighted obesity as one of the fastest-growing long-term public health challenges worldwide, linked to rising rates of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other chronic illnesses.
UAE's Regulatory Agility and Innovation Ecosystem
Speaking to Aletihad, Dr Manish Madnani, Head of Surgical Division, Specialist Gastrointestinal Surgeon, NMC Specialty Hospital, Dubai, said the UAE becoming one of the first countries to approve the treatment sends a strong signal about the country's healthcare and pharmaceutical innovation ecosystem.
"It reflects a deliberate strategy to build a healthcare system that does not wait for the rest of the world to catch up," he noted. According to Dr Madnani, fast regulatory approvals without compromising safety standards strengthen the UAE's position as a serious global healthcare and pharmaceutical partner.
"When regulators prioritise speed without cutting corners on safety, it tells global pharmaceutical companies that the UAE is a serious partner, that reputation attracts more innovation and ultimately better options for patients," he explained.
Dr Adel Ahmad Elnaggar, Consultant Endocrinology and Obesity Management at Medcare Hospital Sharjah, similarly said the approval reflects the UAE's regulatory agility and willingness to adopt high-impact therapies quickly for the benefit of patients.
Both experts stressed that recognising obesity as a chronic disease represents one of the most important changes in modern obesity management.
"For a long time, obesity was treated as a lifestyle choice. Recognising it as a chronic disease changes everything," Dr Madnani explained.
According to him, this shift affects how doctors approach treatment, how healthcare systems allocate resources and how patients view themselves.
"Patients now deserve the same structured, long-term medical support we give to people with diabetes or hypertension. People are far more likely to seek help when they are not being judged," Dr Madnani added.
Dr Elnaggar also emphasised that recognising obesity as a chronic condition helps move the discussion away from blame and towards proper medical support, reducing stigma and encouraging earlier intervention, regular follow-up, and personalised treatment plans.
Convenience of a Once-daily Pill
The newly approved treatment also marks a significant development because it is taken orally rather than through injections, which experts say could improve long-term patient adherence.
"The key difference is convenience. Foundayo is a once-daily pill while existing GLP-1 treatments require injections, which many patients struggle to sustain," Dr Madnani said.
He noted that some patients fear needles while others find long-term self-injection routines difficult to maintain. Dr Elnaggar said oral treatments may feel less intimidating and easier for many patients to incorporate into their daily lives.
Multidisciplinary Approach
At the same time, both doctors stressed that medication alone is not a standalone solution to obesity. "Medication is becoming a much bigger part of the picture, but not the entire picture, it works best combined with diet, physical activity and behavioural support," Dr Madnani said.
He compared obesity treatment to managing blood pressure, where medication forms part of a broader long-term management strategy.
