ITIF-迈向更健康的未来：GLP-1的变革潜力（英）

itif.org A Shot at a Healthier Future: The Transformative Potential of GLP-1s SANDRA BARBOSU AND NATALIE KHOO | AUGUST 2025 Obesity affects over 42 percent of U.S. adults, costing the nation more than $400 billion annually. Traditional weight-loss methods alone have proved to be insufficient in addressing this growing public health burden. But GLP-1 receptor agonists now offer the potential to profoundly transform obesity care. Public policies should support their wider adoption. KEY TAKEAWAYS  Obesity costs the United States more than $400 billion annually, including $173 billion in health-care expenditures, as well as significant losses in productivity, wages, and economic output.  The indirect costs of obesity ripple across multiple sectors—including transportation, food, infrastructure, and emergency services—further compounding its overall economic burden.  Prior efforts to reduce the obesity crisis through advice about dieting and exercise have failed.  GLP-1 therapies deliver clinically meaningful weight loss and help reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other chronic conditions.  Broad adoption of GLP-1 therapies could reduce long-term health care costs, boost labor force participation, and generate economic benefits across multiple sectors.  Key policy priorities include continued support for GLP-1 research, equitable access to these therapies, and incorporating dynamic scoring in CBO modeling to better capture the broader economic impact of obesity reduction. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION FOUNDATION | AUGUST 2025 PAGE 2 CONTENTS Key Takeaways ................................................................................................................. 1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 3 The Scale of the Problem ................................................................................................... 4 Unhealthy Numbers: The Economic Toll of Obesity ............................................................... 5 Individual Costs of Obesity ............................................................................................. 5 Healthcare System Costs of Obesity ................................................................................. 6 Heavy Losses: Reduced Economic Output ........................................................................ 7 Workplace Discrimination and Wage Gaps ........................................................................ 8 The Indirect Costs of Obesity: Implications Across Industries ................................................. 9 Transportation and Fuel Efficiency .................................................................................. 9 Food Industry: Shifting Consumer Demand and Healthcare System Implications ................. 11 Healthcare System Adaptation .....................................................