Costa Rica draws praise for its fresh foods, active habits, and solid public health network. But a shift toward heavier weights threatens that picture. Overweight and obesity now touch a major part of our population, driving up risks for long-term illnesses and adding pressure to medical resources.
Data from health officials show that about 70% of adults in Costa Rica carry extra weight or live with obesity. Women face higher rates at around 74%, while men stand at 63%. These numbers have climbed over the last 20 years. Experts point to diets heavy in processed items and sweet beverages, desk-bound work, and less movement in cities as key factors. Rates among children have risen too, with roughly 8% of those under five showing overweight. This pattern signals potential spikes in diabetes and heart issues for younger groups ahead.
Extra weight links directly to type 2 diabetes, elevated blood pressure, heart conditions, bone strain, and some cancers. These problems already take up a big slice of the country’s health budget and fill hospital beds. To address this, leaders labeled obesity a chronic condition last year, opening doors to ongoing care, diet advice, and support via the national system.
In this setting, a fresh option in drug treatment could soon enter the scene. Health leaders are reviewing an application for the pill form of Wegovy, part of the GLP-1 group. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared it in December 2025 as the first oral drug of its type for weight control.
Area reports first noted the process, which the Ministry of Health later verified. Danish firm Novo Nordisk makes the drug, which already sells injectable forms of Wegovy and Ozempic across markets.
The pill offers a daily dose that matches the injection’s results in cutting weight, according to Novo Nordisk’s Mike Doustdar. These GLP-1 meds started as diabetes aids a decade back but now draw notice for curbing hunger, easing digestion, and supporting steady loss. Similar options include Ozempic and Mounjaro.
In the U.S., where obesity hits 40% of adults, demand runs high. Novo Nordisk set a deal to price the pill at about $150 monthly, far below the $1,000 tag on shots. For Costa Rica, clearance of this pill could help those who find diet and exercise alone tough. Yet doctors stress that drugs work best alongside balanced meals, steady movement, and learning programs to stop problems early.
