Foundations
Foundations explain the recurring concepts that make the Weight Loss Index database easier to read. They define the vocabulary behind obesity treatment records, then connect those concepts to companies, drugs and products, active ingredients, mechanisms, clinical programs, and regulatory milestones.
This section is not a weight loss guide, treatment recommendation surface, or consumer lifestyle reference. It is a concept layer for understanding how medical, regulatory, clinical, and commercial records fit together.
Core concepts
Section titled “Core concepts”Obesity treatment
Section titled “Obesity treatment”Obesity treatment separates medical obesity-treatment context from broad consumer weight loss content. It explains why this project focuses on regulated products, clinical programs, mechanisms, access pathways, and industry relationships rather than diet advice or personal treatment decisions.
Mechanism of action
Section titled “Mechanism of action”Mechanism of action explains how biological targets and pharmacologic classes organize obesity-treatment products and pipeline programs. It keeps mechanism language useful for mapping relationships without implying product interchangeability, superiority, or personal suitability.
Active ingredient vs brand vs product
Section titled “Active ingredient vs brand vs product”Active ingredient vs brand vs product explains why semaglutide is not the same thing as Wegovy or Ozempic, and why tirzepatide is not the same thing as Zepbound or Mounjaro. This distinction is central to product, company, mechanism, and regulatory mapping.
Indication, label, approval, and launch
Section titled “Indication, label, approval, and launch”Indication, label, approval, and launch separates related but different regulatory and commercial concepts. An approval, labeled indication, market launch, payer coverage decision, and supply status can point in different directions and should be read with jurisdiction and date context.
Clinical trial endpoints in obesity
Section titled “Clinical trial endpoints in obesity”Clinical trial endpoints in obesity explains how weight-change measures, responder thresholds, populations, comparators, and study duration should be read in clinical-program records. It helps keep trial results tied to their evidence context.
Dose, formulation, and route
Section titled “Dose, formulation, and route”Dose, formulation, and route separates product-identity fields such as dose, strength, dosage form, route, and delivery presentation. It supports product and label interpretation without becoming dosing guidance.
Market access, coverage, and availability
Section titled “Market access, coverage, and availability”Market access, coverage, and availability separates approval, launch, payer coverage, reimbursement, shortage, supply, and real-world availability. It keeps commercial and access records dated, jurisdiction-specific, and distinct from regulatory status.