Beyond Weight Loss to Systemic Healthcare Transformation

The next decade could redefine what 'public health' means, not just for bodies, but for societies.

23 October 2025
Tags: diabetes, public health, weightloss, healthcare

Two weeks ago I started taking one of the drugs in growing use for weight management. My goal is to lose 15% of my body weight in 10 weeks. I'm already well on track, so it got me thinking: what will change if everybody who needs it has access? Imagine a world where metabolic drugs have become as accessible and routine as vaccines. Can we actually cure obesity?

At Shaping Tomorrow, we model multiple futures that reveal where disruptions, risks and opportunities lie. Here I'm focusing on some emerging opportunities.

By 2035, up to 20% of Americans could be using diet drugs (Coresight Research). That scale changes everything! The ripple effects would be profound:

• Chronic diseases decline sharply. Heart disease, diabetes, and liver conditions drop across every demographic.

• Healthcare systems transform. Budgets shift from crisis management to prevention and long-term wellbeing.

• Food and wellness industries have to reinvent themselves as The 'diet industry' fades into history.

But this future isn't just about biology. It's about balance.

If access remains unequal, we risk creating a new health divide: the treated and the untreated. For this 'preferred future' to become a reality, everyone needs access. Not just me and people like me.

The next decade could redefine what 'public health' means, not just for bodies, but for societies.

How ready are we for the social, ethical, and economic shifts that follow?

Explore our latest Signal Scan:
Beyond Weight Loss to Systemic Healthcare Transformation

Let's discuss how you can use insights like this to future-proof your next strategic move.

Stay curious,
Matthew Richardson
CEO