Amelia Jones | 30/06/2026
Members of the HEOR team recently attended the Economics of Obesity and Metabolic Health Summit in Brussels, organised by the Economist Enterprise.
The summit brought together policymakers, clinicians, health economists, payers and patient advocates to explore the systemic and economic dimensions of obesity, a condition that is increasingly recognised as one of the most significant public health and fiscal challenges of our time.
Several themes resonated with the work we do at HEOR.
The economic case for action is compelling. With the global cost of obesity and metabolic disorders projected to exceed $4 trillion annually by 2035, there is growing urgency around the need for rigorous economic evaluation of both preventive strategies and therapeutic innovations, alongside clinical outcomes.
The narrative around obesity continues to evolve. There was strong momentum at the summit behind understanding obesity through the lens of biology and environment rather than individual behaviour. This shift has important implications for how interventions are designed, assessed and ultimately supported by payers and policymakers.
GLP-1 receptor agonists are generating significant policy interest. Discussion was focused on how health systems can support population-level access responsibly, a question that depends on robust, evidence-based frameworks that can demonstrate both clinical and economic value.
Equity in access remains a difficult question. The gap between what is therapeutically possible and what patients can access, across geographies and socioeconomic groups, was a thread running through multiple sessions, alongside the specific challenges of childhood obesity and multi-system intervention design.
The themes discussed in Brussels reflect many of the questions we help tackle every day at HEOR. Whether generating evidence-based frameworks, assessing value or supporting access to innovation, we are committed to helping translate research into real-world impact. If these topics resonate with your work, we’d be pleased to continue the conversation.