Microdosing weight loss drugs, a growing global trend, could offer a new gateway solution for obesity for those priced out of the rising costs of drugs like Wegovy and Mounjaro.
Weight loss is a major contributor to reducing life-limiting diseases such as cardiovascular illness, cancer, and diabetes. According to the International Diabetes Federation, around 20 per cent of people in the UAE have diabetes, while almost 40 per cent of adults are considered overweight and 17.8 per cent clinically obese.
Delivering a pea-sized amount of semaglutide, a drug that replicates natural hormones to suppress appetite and slow digestion, could help reduce side effects and make medications more affordable while preventing the onset of related diseases.
Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) hormone replicas have transformed the way doctors tackle weight loss.
Semaglutide has become a significant medical tool in the obesity battle due to its weight loss properties. It was originally developed to tackle diabetes, given that the drugs send signals to the pancreas to control insulin and glucagon.
Dr Mohammad Fityan, chief medical officer and obesity medicine consultant, said that while microdosing is not scientifically tested, it can reduce side effects such as nausea and make drugs more affordable long-term. “For most people, these medications are not covered by insurance,” he said.
“So rather than taking the full 150mg dose each time, people are taking 20 per cent of that. It means the pen would last 4 or 5 times longer. However, we do not have any clinical data to support the effectiveness of this.
“In regards to safety, all the pen medications have a starting dose which should be the minimum. When we advise patients, it is based not only on our personal experience, but the clinical data.”
Rising costs
The price of GLP-1 inhibitors can vary significantly between nations. A month’s supply of Ozempic, which is used for diabetes, costs about $1,000 in the US. But if patients pay in cash directly to pharmacies rather than via insurers, costs are halved to around $499.
Meanwhile, in Denmark, where the drug is made, Ozempic is available for just $130 for a month's supply. Mounjaro, a similar tirzepatide-based drug manufactured by the US pharma company Eli Lilly, is set to rise in price by 170 per cent in the UK due to concerns over pricing inequalities around the world.
Pricing is a major factor that could push more people searching for the health benefits of weight loss towards a more radical approach, such as microdosing. A daily pill developed by Eli Lilly, currently under clinical trials, could accelerate the use of weight loss drugs even further, experts said.
“Price increases for these drugs is one of the reasons why most patients are looking at microdosing,” said Dr Fityan. “The prices are just getting higher, which will add a lot of burden on patients, and it is why microdosing is getting more popular.
“The Department of Health in Abu Dhabi understands that obesity is a chronic disease that really needs to be addressed. The clinical results of an oral pill are not as good as Mounjaro, but this will be the first and only oral medication approved for weight loss. We are hoping it will be available in 2026, so it's a big development.”
Health insurers started covering obesity drugs this year, if patients fulfil certain medical criteria. Drugs are offered for obese patients, defined by a Body Mass Index of 30 or above, or 27 with at least one obesity-related comorbidity, such as hypertension, diabetes, fatty liver or sleep apnoea. Patients must also show they regularly exercise, and that is tracked via a government-supported mobile app.
Dubai test case
Experts said microdosing is a tool that can reshape early medical intervention in patients on a clear path towards diabetes and obesity. Just enough medication is administered to prevent disease from progressing in a way that’s more tolerable, more flexible, and often more affordable.
At Glucare, a specialist diabetes treatment centre in Dubai, doctors are prescribing multi-dose pens, allowing users to dial-in unnumbered clicks to achieve fractional dosing. Under guidance, doctors can escalate or taper doses at the patient’s pace, depending on any side effects that may emerge. When a target is reached, administering a lower dose can help maintain progress towards reaching a healthy weight goal.
“At GluCare, we’ve found that microdosing works best for patients who are particularly sensitive to side effects, especially those who have struggled with nausea or gastrointestinal discomfort on standard dosing,” said Dr Yousef Said, medical director of GluCare Health.
“This changes the game entirely for patients on track to getting disease, but are otherwise ineligible for the treatment. We’ve already started implementing microdosing across our weight management and diabetes programmes.”
GluCare already uses an oral semaglutide pill that has been regulated for diabetes patients. With a similar daily pill now on the horizon to treat obesity, Dr Said expects GLP-1 drugs to be more widely used across health care.
“This looks promising because it may be simpler to take and potentially broaden use even further,” he said. “While injectable GLP-1s remain the most powerful option for maximum weight and glucose outcomes, oral therapies are now firmly part of our treatment strategy, and we expect their role to expand as newer formulations become available.”
THE SPECS
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Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)
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Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
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Leaderboard
63 - Mike Lorenzo-Vera (FRA)
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The years Ramadan fell in May
Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Rating: 2.5/5
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England squads for Test and T20 series against New Zealand
Test squad: Joe Root (capt), Jofra Archer, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jack Leach, Saqib Mahmood, Matthew Parkinson, Ollie Pope, Dominic Sibley, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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China
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UAE
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What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
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Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
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MIDWAY
Produced: Lionsgate Films, Shanghai Ryui Entertainment, Street Light Entertainment
Directed: Roland Emmerich
Cast: Ed Skrein, Woody Harrelson, Dennis Quaid, Aaron Eckhart, Luke Evans, Nick Jonas, Mandy Moore, Darren Criss
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
One in nine do not have enough to eat
Created in 1961, the World Food Programme is pledged to fight hunger worldwide as well as providing emergency food assistance in a crisis.
One of the organisation’s goals is the Zero Hunger Pledge, adopted by the international community in 2015 as one of the 17 Sustainable Goals for Sustainable Development, to end world hunger by 2030.
The WFP, a branch of the United Nations, is funded by voluntary donations from governments, businesses and private donations.
Almost two thirds of its operations currently take place in conflict zones, where it is calculated that people are more than three times likely to suffer from malnutrition than in peaceful countries.
It is currently estimated that one in nine people globally do not have enough to eat.
On any one day, the WFP estimates that it has 5,000 lorries, 20 ships and 70 aircraft on the move.
Outside emergencies, the WFP provides school meals to up to 25 million children in 63 countries, while working with communities to improve nutrition. Where possible, it buys supplies from developing countries to cut down transport cost and boost local economies.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
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