Obesity

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.

“We are at an inflection point regarding treatment of obesity,” said Robert Kushner, MD, MS, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

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.

Aside from semaglutide, alternate weight loss routes include other anti-obesity medications, chronic weight management programs, or obesity medicine specialists, said Ian Neeland, MD.

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.

Jeff McIntyre, MA, of the Global Liver Institute (GLI), discusses the importance of the health care community understanding non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and how to mitigate its global impact.

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.