My Eyes in the Time of Apparition

Disparities in GLP-1 Medicines for Obesity Are Growing Obvious

A new study in JAMA Network Open makes one thing very clear. Most people who take GLP-1 medicines for obesity quit within a year. Most who take them for diabetes are less likely to quit. Why are the disparities in GLP-1 medicines for obesity so great in comparison to their use for diabetes?

It’s all about the money.

With good insurance or greater income, people are more likely to keep taking these medicines. Without either of those, patients trying to overcome obesity face daunting hurdles. In their conclusion, Patricia Rodriguez and colleagues say it plainly:

“Inequities in access and adherence to effective treatments have the potential to exacerbate disparities in obesity.”

Tracking Interruptions in Therapy

Rodrigues et al used electronic health records to track the use of GLP-1s indicated for both obesity and diabetes. In total, they examined the records of 125,474 adults with overweight or obesity. Most but not all of them (61%) also had type 2 diabetes.

Within a year of starting on a GLP-1, 65% of these people stopped taking it if they had obesity or overweight but no diabetes. For those who also had diabetes, the discontinuation rate was significantly lower – 47%. Rodriguez pointed to the financial factors that seem to be driving the disparity for people with obesity:

“We were struck by the high rate of discontinuation. It really points to challenges with insurance and cost that make these drugs less accessible to patients without Type 2 diabetes.”

Barriers to Obesity Care

While medical experts are celebrating the difference that these medicines can make for people living with obesity, they neglect a basic point. The drugs do nothing for people who cannot get them.

Ezekiel Emanuel, senior author on this study, points to the importance of addressing disparities in access to GLP-1 medicines for obesity:

“This study sheds light on the challenges for real-world patients of staying on these medications and highlights the need to tackle barriers such as cost, insurance coverage, and equitable policies to ensure availability. Without these measures, we risk widening health disparities and denying countless individuals the chance to improve their health and quality of life.”

Click here for the new study, here and here for further perspective.

My Eyes in the Time of Apparition, painting by August Natterer / WikiArt

Subscribe by email to follow the accumulating evidence and observations that shape our view of health, obesity, and policy.


 

February 3, 2025

One Response to “Disparities in GLP-1 Medicines for Obesity Are Growing Obvious”

  1. February 03, 2025 at 11:28 am, Allen Browne said:

    Yup!!! “ The drugs do nothing for people who cannot get them.”!!!

    Allen

    Reply

Leave a Reply