Unsplash
2024 marks another year that the obesity pandemic continues to rage across the US. Over the last two decades, obesity has risen to become one of America’s most dangerous conditions, claiming more lives than smoking and drinking. Recent studies even link up to five million obesity-related deaths per year. Case in point, the American mortality rate in relation to cardiovascular issues brought on by excess weight tripled between 1999 and 2020. Worryingly, obesity now affects over 40% of the population, meaning more people continue to be at risk. On a more social aspect, obesity is also connected to higher levels of oppression and discrimination, as discussed by Oregon State University.
Many weight loss and management approaches have been rolled out in response. Inarguably, the most popular of late has been medical weight loss, which has even been endorsed by top influencers and high-profile celebrities. Unfortunately, while this intervention has brought on several benefits, it’s also highlighted how weight loss is not an even playing field, and many who need help are often left out.
A backgrounder on medical weight loss
Medical weight loss refers to a specific approach anchored on using FDA-approved medications. These medications work in numerous ways to help patients overcome obesity factors outside of diet and exercise, such as genetics or medical history. For example, weight loss with Ozempic starts in the brain. The drug sends signals to the brain’s appetite centers in order to make you feel satiated for longer, thereby preventing binge eating. Similarly, oral Qsymia weight loss medications influence neurotransmitters like noradrenaline and glutamate. As such, patients feel full faster and take longer to feel hungry. That said, medical weight loss is not a miracle solution, and patients still need to complement their medications with tailored diets and exercise.
Because medications are a concern, though, medical weight loss is not for everyone. Doctors are the only ones who can determine if a patient is eligible for this intervention. Many aspects are taken into consideration, but most medical weight loss participants have a BMI over 30 or close to it with comorbidities. Overall, evidence suggests that patients can expect at least 5% of total body weight loss.
Addressing medical weight loss demand
Given the benefits, the demand for medical weight loss medications has surged to the point of a supply shortage. This is a problem not only because this means some obese patients are unable to access their medicines but also because a number of these medications are used for other chronic conditions like diabetes. As a result, any available medication is very expensive. This year, the popular weight loss drug Mounjaro saw a 4.5% price hike, which is equivalent to about $1,000 for a month’s worth of medicine. Consequently, several insurers refuse to cover medical weight loss drugs. All these mean that patients who want and need medical weight loss interventions must overcome several hurdles that can exclude many.
So, what’s being done to address this? Firstly, a number of accessible platforms now offer medical weight loss, thereby making it easier for patients to reach specialists and the necessary drugs. To illustrate, WeightWatchers offers medical weight loss plans that can be customized to work alongside their time-tested Points Program. This allows patients to receive all their personalized weight loss advice from one streamlined platform. Aside from this, Eli Lilly has introduced a new service where drugs, including those for medical weight loss, can be shipped directly to your doorstep. This addresses mobility or transportation issues. Since individual patients may also struggle to afford these drugs, some employers are working to cover this cost for them. According to CNBC, around 27% of large companies in the US offer weight loss benefits, and another 13% are considering offering these in the near future, too.
In conclusion, medical weight loss as a whole still has quite a bit to go before it’s fully accessible for everyone who needs it. However, with public and private efforts, this life-saving solution may curb obesity for all who battle it.
