NPR recently reported on the findings of a new survey by the Gallup National Health and Well-Being Index, which indicates that the rapidly increasing use of injectable obesity treatments is leading to declines in U.S. obesity rates.
According to the article:
- Obesity Rate Decline: The obesity rate among U.S. adults has dropped to 37%, down from a high of 39.9% three years ago.
- Increased GLP-1 Use: The number of Americans taking drugs like semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) or tirzepatide (Zepbound, Mounjaro)—which are GLP-1 agonists—for weight loss more than doubled in the past year and a half, reaching 12.4% of respondents.
- Impact: GLP-1 agonists are considered a “watershed” in the struggle against obesity because they suppress hunger and slow digestion.
- Demographic Changes: Declines in obesity rates were more significant among those aged 40 to 64 (dropping 5.0 points in the 50-64 cohort) and among women, correlating with higher usage of the medications in those groups.
- Diabetes Rate: Despite the drop in obesity, the survey found a highest-ever rate of diabetes at 13.8%.
- Access Issues: A major concern is access. Many private insurers are beginning to stop coverage for GLP-1 medications, which typically cost patients about $500 a month out-of-pocket without insurance, potentially making the treatments unaffordable for many.
Leave a Reply