Obesity is diagnosed when a person is determined to have obesity, defined by the Japan Society for the Study of Obesity as a body mass index of 25 or higher, and has or is expected to have one or more health disorders caused by or associated with obesity, or has visceral fat obesity.

Treatment primarily consists of dietary therapy, exercise therapy, and behavioral therapy. Pharmacotherapy may be introduced when sufficient effects cannot be obtained, and surgical therapy may be introduced in cases of severe obesity.

Many diseases require weight loss as part of treatment, and the need for pharmacotherapy for weight loss is high. In recent years, Wegovy and Zepbound have become prescribable under insurance coverage, and development of new drugs such as oral GLP-1 receptor agonists is also advancing.

This survey examines reasons for seeking medical care, causative and related diseases, treatment attitudes and treatment status, dissatisfaction with treatment, evaluations of pharmacotherapy, and needs for future pharmacotherapy among patients with obesity. It aims to provide data that will contribute to the creation of future treatments and the development of new therapeutic drugs.

Survey Overview and Objective

Obesity is diagnosed when a person is determined to have obesity, defined by the Japan Society for the Study of Obesity as a body mass index of 25 or higher, and has or is expected to have one or more of 11 health disorders caused by or associated with obesity, including impaired glucose tolerance such as type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypertension, or has visceral fat obesity.

Treatment primarily consists of dietary therapy, exercise therapy, and behavioral therapy, with a goal of reducing current body weight by 3% or more. Pharmacotherapy may be introduced when dietary therapy and exercise therapy do not provide sufficient effects, and surgical therapy may be introduced in cases of severe obesity with a body mass index of 35 or higher.

Not only obesity but also causative and related diseases such as type 2 diabetes and dyslipidemia often require weight loss as part of treatment, and the need for pharmacotherapy for weight loss is high. In recent years, approvals of therapeutic drugs have occurred in succession, including Wegovy becoming prescribable under insurance coverage in February 2024 and Zepbound in April 2025. Development of new drugs such as oral GLP-1 receptor agonists is also advancing.

This survey examines reasons for seeking medical care, coexisting causative and related diseases, treatment attitudes, treatment status, and dissatisfaction with treatment among patients with obesity, as well as evaluations of pharmacotherapy and needs for future pharmacotherapy, including expectations for oral drugs, desirable conditions of use, and characteristics of therapeutic drugs. It aims to provide data that will contribute to the creation of future treatments and the development of new therapeutic drugs.

Main Survey Points

• Reasons for visiting a medical institution (motivation for seeking medical care)
• Status of coexisting diseases caused by or related to obesity
• Treatment status (implementation of dietary therapy, exercise therapy, behavioral therapy, pharmacotherapy, surgical therapy, and observation)
• Treatment goals, attitudes toward treatment, and treatment adherence
• Treatment satisfaction and points of dissatisfaction
• Evaluation of current pharmacotherapy and needs for future pharmacotherapy

Survey Method

Method: Internet questionnaire survey

Participants: 400 to 500 adult men and women scheduled to participate who are currently visiting a medical institution for obesity treatment, or who have been diagnosed with obesity but are not visiting a medical institution

Publication Date

April 20, 2026

Survey Items (Outline)

• 1. Patient Profile
  • Age at diagnosis of obesity
  • Reason for visiting a medical institution (motivation)
  • Status of coexisting diseases caused by or related to obesity (type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, etc.)
  • Medical institutions first/currently visited and visit frequency (frequency instructed by the physician/actual frequency)
  • History of treatment discontinuation and reasons
• 2. Treatment Status and Evaluation
  • Treatments previously undertaken/currently undertaken (dietary therapy, exercise therapy, behavioral therapy, pharmacotherapy, surgical therapy, and observation)
  • Treatment adherence
  • Treatment goals and attitudes toward treatment (intention to continue treatment and intention to achieve treatment goals)
  • Treatment satisfaction and points of dissatisfaction
  • Status and evaluation of pharmacotherapy
• 3. Needs for Future Pharmacotherapy
  • Expectations, intentions, and acceptance regarding new drugs (new routes of administration and new mechanisms of action)
  • Characteristics desired in therapeutic drugs (factors considered important, cost, dosage form, etc.)