This week's lifestyle

Vikrant Shrotriya, Managing Director, Novo Nordisk India Pvt Ltd, spoke about the need to tackle obesity

Ozempic has become a buzzword these days.But if Vikrant Shrotriya, managing director of Novo Nordisk India Pvt Ltd, had his way, obesity would get all the attention, medical or otherwise.In a fascinating conversation with THE WEEK's Deputy Editor and Director Riyad, Matthew Shrotriya talks about the need to fight obesity and how GLP-1 drugs can make a difference.Selections:

Riyad Mathew / What are the main problems facing India today?First I want to hear the challenges and then the solutions.

Vikrant Shrotriya / The challenge is economic prosperity.And with that, you have a directly proportional channel, which comes to obesity, diabetes and associated mental disorders.I always say everything is a metabolic disorder.

We sit here, we sit for an hour and it is said that it is almost equivalent to smoking.We have a calorie surplus and we have less and less physical activity.I don't know data from India, but the average American eats 3500 calories.I am very sure that in India too most of us end up taking too many calories.

[A lot of things are confusing, at least the fortune of diabetics is 100 million, 2550 [million], but when it comes to our body), maybe we call them little India.If you put me a 67 kg person, you will see that I will have a lot of fat, belly fat.It is the mother of all diseases.We've just explained the interpretation of many diseases, but I'm saying that [obesity] has [many] problems, whether it's anxiety, worry, confusion, the heart.This is a big problem.

Mathew / You said that obesity is a big problem.When I learned in the United States, it was very kind.But I read the last report that obesity in the United States is on the decline.So what is your answer for a country like India?

Shrotriya / I will say that everyone has tried to bend the obesity curve.It is very simple.Many doctors eat physically, but if it is very simple, 40 percent are not coordinated.It is the most difficult to exercise every day.

But in the United States, where obesity has increased at an alarming rate, the rate has increased from 40 percent to 37 percent.And the only thing that helps is GLP-1.... When you diet and exercise and take medication at the same time, you find synergy in reducing [obesity].

Math / What would be your advice to government officials here?

Shrotriya / I Collection, Access and Quality Assurance and Quality Healthcare.But if I look to the future, I want to see obesity first and foremost.If it can't be prevented at least.Whether it's a disorder or a disease or a disease or a disease, I think we need to address it.For this, at least for now, I can only see weapon lights.So at least from the corporate side, we're one step ahead.It seems like a small deal, but it's not.I really am so passionate about India - at least in India, to bend the curve in my life.We're also dropping the price by 47% to make it easier for more people.Acceptance is actually increasing.Second, I've never seen a drug like GLP-1, at least not in the NCDS space.So I have requests to open more obesity treatment units or metabolic disorders.I think that might help bend the curve in the US.

Mathew / Union Minister of State for Health and Agriculture Chemicals and Fertilizers Anupriya Patel and Member of Parliament Bansuri Swaraj spoke about the government's achievements in healthcare.As a company, how do you deal with the problem of obesity?

Shrotriya/ All I can say is that we can never do it alone.We are a company with 100 years of innovation.We were given insulin.Then, along with insulin, we got this GLP-1 to treat obesity and diabetes.I repeat what the minister said.We need Jan Andolan (people's movement) - sabka saath (support of all).We need community.We need the government, policy makers and hospitals to recognize obesity as a disorder.We want obesity to be seen as a treatable condition.And you will see the magic.You will find that your metabolic disorders will actually decrease.We know that with a 5 percent weight loss, blood sugar levels decrease and high blood pressure decreases.Weight loss should be part of [treatment].

Matthew / everyone is talking about Ozempic.Can you explain to the readers about ozempic and what will happen?

Shrotriya/ Ozempic has become a household word.But it is a medicine, and should only be prescribed by doctors.It happened that... it became the most searched word on Google.We never imagined.And so, the demand for Ozempic was very, very high.But I am very happy that it has received revolutionary approval in India, and should be available [here] soon.