At this year’s ObesityWeek conference, antiobesity drugs were a prominent part of the discussions. As John A. Batsis, MD says, “There was a huge focus on newer medications, their efficacy, their safety, gaps in knowledge, and what future studies are needed.” In his research, Dr. Batsis focuses on obesity and physical function in older adults. During the meeting, Batsis and other clinicians shared some pertinent issues regarding these and other therapies, including:
- The effectiveness of lifestyle changes – Small numbers of people lose significant weight and weight regain is common
- Concerns about body composition – Whether patients taking these drugs lose healthy lean body mass or develop nutritional deficiencies
- Their effectiveness for women – In a conference talk, Jacinda Nicklas, MD, MPH, showed that females often respond better to these newer antiobesity medications than males.
- Insurance coverage challenges – If neither Medicare and Medicaid nor commercial insurance pays for antiobesity treatments that cost thousands of dollars a month, they’re not accessible for most patients.
Read the full JAMA article: At ObesityWeek, More Data and Questions About Semaglutide, Tirzepatide, and Retatrutide.