About the Issue Brief
Obesity is a significant health issue affecting a large portion of the American population, with nearly 3 out of every 4 adults over 20 being overweight and 42% affected by obesity. This leads to various health risks and substantial healthcare costs, with conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer being more prevalent among obese individuals. Traditional weight management approaches have often fallen short, but the introduction of GLP-1 drugs, particularly semaglutide (Wegovy®), has revolutionized treatment. GLP-1s have shown remarkable success in aiding weight loss, with potential benefits including improved cardiovascular health and reduced risk of heart attacks and strokes.
However, achieving clinically meaningful weight loss requires continued use of the drug for at least 12 weeks, along with long-term lifestyle changes.
This study was performed on behalf of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and explored if patients prescribed GLP-1s for weight loss are dropping out of treatment too quickly to attain the health benefits of these drugs.
