Obesity

Expanding coverage and access to glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medication can be beneficial for all with the cooperation of multiple parties in health care.

New diabetes medications are pressuring Medicare Part D financially as they drive up prescription drug costs amid rising rates of type 2 diabetes and obesity.

The high cost of incretin mimetics for weight management limits insurance coverage and potentiates variation in utilization management strategies to control near-term spending.

The Commission proposed using new measures beyond body mass index (BMI) to define when obesity is a disease.

Pediatric patients considered obese at cancer diagnosis are linked to significantly worse survival outcomes, especially those with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and central nervous system tumors.

The top content from the Institute for Value-Based Medicine® (IVBM®) highlighted innovative approaches to improving care delivery, addressing obesity, and tackling health inequities across various disciplines.

In this interview, Yehuda Handelsman, MD, highlights key updates to the Diabetes, Cardiorenal, and Metabolic (DCRM) guidelines in DCRM 2.0, shaped by global collaboration and recent clinical insights.

GLP-1 drugs are remarkably effective at addressing obesity, cardiovascular, and metabolic conditions, but investigators continue to search for solutions that address the root cause of these disorders.

The most-read obesity articles of 2024 mostly focused on insurance coverage of weight loss medications and costs.

The mean body mass index (BMI) and the prevalence of obesity both dropped in 2023 for the first time in more than a decade.

Tirzepatide and semaglutide, both medications for obesity treatment, demonstrate similar safety and efficacy but tirzepatide resulted in greater levels of weight loss among patients compared with semaglutide.

A proposal from the Biden administration to provide coverage of weight loss drugs through Medicaid and Medicare may cost more than it saves.

If made official, the proposed rule would give Part D and Medicaid beneficiaries expanded coverage to antiobesity drugs starting in 2026.

In the US, liraglutide, semaglutide, and tirzepatide are currently under investigation for their ability to stimulate weight loss, with their safety and efficacy primary outcomes of interest.

Over half of the US adult population may benefit from semaglutide, a drug primarily used for weight loss and diabetes, although concerns about access and cost persist, especially considering its potential for wider health applications.

Forecasts indicate a drastic increase in US obesity rates in the next 25 years, emphasizing the need for comprehensive public health strategies.

Two doses of vitamin D were investigated for their potential to have a positive impact on systolic and diastolic blood pressures when administered in conjunction with calcium.

Results demonstrated the mean total medical costs per patient per year decreased significantly after patients began semaglutide treatment.

Combining a digital intervention with health behavior counseling improved weight trajectories and lowered obesity risk in racially and ethnically diverse children over 24 months.

The Medicaid budget survey for fiscal years 2024 and 2025 revealed state predictions are expecting a decline in Medicaid enrollment and an increase in spending next year due to the end of pandemic-era policies and federal funding.

Establishing habits in children can help to prevent childhood obesity, a rising problem in the US.

Robert Lustig, MD, MSL, warns that sugary baby foods, rising birth weights, and ultraprocessed school meals are fueling long-term health risks in children.

Semaglutide treatment significantly improved quality of life and reduced flare-ups in patients with obesity and hidradenitis suppurativa.

The Senate HELP Committee held a hearing to address the high cost of semaglutide drugs, finding that many patients cannot afford them despite their potential benefits.

Weight loss drugs have gained attention as a tool to help combat obesity, but understanding how they work, who they’re for, and their potential downsides is key to making informed decisions.

Patients who had weight-loss surgery were more likely to have managed their high blood pressure compared with those who used medications and modes of management.

At an Institute for Value-Based Medicine® (IVBM) event cohosted by The American Journal of Managed Care®, experts discussed efforts to implement obesity management science into practice.

The growing list of insurers dropping coverage for costly GLP-1 weight loss drugs leaves patients to bear even higher out-of-pocket expenses while still struggling to meet their goals.

This article reviews the obesity epidemic in America and discusses inadequate insurance coverage.

The authors advocate for a consideration of 2 distinct phases of obesity management (ie, active weight loss and maintenance of weight loss) to allow substantially more people access to antiobesity medications.