Obesity

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.

Getting weight loss drugs into the hands of those who need them could be a matter of changing pricing models to give more patients access to the medication they need.

Breastfeeding infants during the first 3 months can lower their risk of childhood obesity, regardless of the mother's body mass index before pregnancy.

Despite there being more patients undergoing bariatric surgery since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was enacted in 2010, these surgeries had better postoperative outcomes.

Ian Neeland, MD, of University Hospitals Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute, talks about the uptick in patients at his practice seeking semaglutide for weight loss.

According to Ian Neeland, MD, there are 2 main reasons for the shortage of injectable semaglutide: the fact that oral semaglutide has not yet been tested for weight loss, and that most practitioners just overlook it as an option.

COVID-19 subvariant JN.1 accounts for about 62% of US cases, resulting in mask mandates being reinstated in cities across the United States; sugary drink sales fell dramatically across 5 US cities after implementing taxes on them; it is difficult for Special Supplement Nutrition Program for Women and Children (WIC) participants to find approved items.

Ian Neeland, MD, highlights that oral semaglutide is more accessible and that patients should avoid switching drug types during the shortage.

Ian Neeland, MD, of University Hospitals Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute, describes challenges patients with diabetes face during the semaglutide shortage and alternative options he gives his patients to prevent therapy disruptions.

An in-depth look into what the drug is being used for and what has contributed to the shortage.

Peter Katzmarzyk discusses contributing factors to obesity and the chronic disease preventions and implementations collaborative care teams like nutritionists, psychologists, and physical therapists should support.

A new survey from the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions found that employers are planning to place a larger focus on obesity management, women’s health, and health equity in 2024 and beyond.

The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommended that children with obesity receive intensive counseling at age 6 to promote healthy diet and exercise habits; a new survey found that the majority of American patients are wary of their doctors using artificial intelligence (AI); a class-action lawsuit was filed Tuesday against health insurer Humana for using an AI algorithm that systemically denies seniors rehabilitation care recommended by their doctors.

End-of-year victory for lawmakers as health care policies pass in the House; insurance limitations prompt concerns over access to semaglutide (Ozempic) for diabetes; a legal battle ensues over the fate of abortion laws in Arizona.

Data analysis showed that 40% of patients who filled a prescription for Wegovy in 2021 or 2022 were still taking it a year later; both Democrats and reproductive rights organizations are pressuring the Biden administration to ensure health insurers fully cover contraception; CMS implemented Medicare changes in March that limited access to blood tests that help transplant recipients ensure their organs remain healthy.

The Obesity Action Coalition and other organizations are urging the FDA to address critical gaps in drug testing, emphasizing the need for specific testing in individuals with obesity to ensure safety and efficacy, as current practices expose this population to unnecessary risks.

Low vaccination rates raise fears of COVID-19 resurgence; a survey highlights racial discrimination in health care; Eli Lilly’s tirzepatide (Zepbound) has entered US pharmacies.

The prevalence of obesity in the Sutter Health system between 2015 and 2020 was 35%. Differences by race/ethnicity, health insurance, smoking status, and comorbidities were examined.

Findings were presented by researchers from the UC Irvine Health School of Medicine at the 2023 American Society for Preventive Cardiology's Congress on CVD Prevention.

After receiving 4.8 mg of survodutide weekly for 46 weeks, more than half of trial participants achieved weight loss of 15% or more.

Overall, home visitation staff support the use of technology-enhanced educational tools in conjunction with home visits to promote positive weight outcomes.

Independent FDA panel advises that the next round of COVID-19 vaccines only target XBB strains; the American Medical Association (AMA) says that only using body mass index (BMI) is not enough to evaluate health; teens with severe obesity look to controversial surgery and weight-loss drugs.

Type 2 diabetes drug tirzepatide (Mounjaro) helped some individuals lose nearly 16% of their body weight; some vital drugs have been sporadically in shortage for over 8 years; a bacterial outbreak of klebsiella claimed 4 lives and infected 31 people in a Seattle hospital.