Top 5 Most-Read Obesity Articles in 2024

The conversation around obesity intensified in 2024 as the disease intersected with public health, health policy, and insurance coverage issues. Interest in glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists to treat obesity grew exponentially and demand far outpaced supply. Furthermore, research began to show the GLP-1s had a role in more than just weight loss.

Here is the most-read obesity coverage of 2024, or you can read all of our coverage.

5. Inadequate Insurance Coverage for Overweight/Obesity Management

This review article, published in the August issue of The American Journal of Managed Care®, dove into the obesity epidemic in the United States, associated racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities. The authors conducted a review of studies and government reports to quantify the obesity epidemic and found the disease is the leading contributor to a number of disorders, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and the prevalence of obesity is driven by inadequate access to qualified health care providers and services, environmental factors, and inadequate coverage of proven antiobesity medications.

Read the full review.

4. 5 Things Americans Should Know About Weight Loss Drugs

With interest in weight loss medications growing, the most-read obesity articles of 2024 mostly focused on insurance coverage and costs.

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This list focused on what Americans should know about weight loss drugs as they increase in popularity, including the types of different drugs available, common adverse effects, costs, and more. Important to note is that in addition to weight loss drugs not being a one-size-fits-all solution, they are also not a one-time solution. Continued treatment and follow-up is important to prevent rapid weight regain and increased blood pressure.

Read the full article.

3. Can Different Pricing Models Address the Obesity Problem in America?

As prescription weight loss medications become more popular, cost has become an increasing issue curbing access. This article took a look at the costs due to medical costs related to obesity and the small percentage of insurance companies that covered treatments for obesity, which could offset those medical costs. A different payment model could be the solution to the price issue for these medications. One that is highlighted in this article is the Netflix model, which gained attention a decade earlier when the highly expensive medications for hepatitis C virus first became available.

Read the full article.

2. Semaglutide Improves Hidradenitis Suppurativa in Patients With Obesity

Patients with obesity and hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) who were taking semaglutide, also experienced improvements in their HS flare-ups, according to research published in September in British Association of Dermatologists. HS is often associated with obesity and insulin resistance, and as the condition gets worse, it can have a substantial impact on patient quality of life. For patients who initiated semaglutide, the mean frequency of flares reduced from once every 8.5 weeks to once every 12 weeks.

Read the full article.

1. Rising Costs Lead Insurers to Drop Weight Loss Drug Coverage, Further Increasing Patient Burden

This article was published in the first issue of the rebranded AJMC: Population Health, Equity, and Outcomes journal in September. More and more insurers are dropping coverage for GLP-1 weight loss drugs, leaving patients to bear higher out-of-pocket expenses. According to a former health plan medical director, decisions to stop covering weight loss drugs could lead to broader implications, with state mandates or federal directives to ensure coverage. One clinician provided insights into what a patient should do if their insurer does drop coverage of these drugs after they have already started on them.

Read the full article.