Most overweight people only take weight loss injections for a very limited period of time
The injection medications Wegovy and Ozempic from the Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk are reportedly only a choice for most overweight individuals in the US for a very limited period of time according to a study: Only one in four US patients who were prescribed these medications continued to take worldwide popular diabetes drugs two years later, according to a Reuters analysis. No reasons for discontinuation were mentioned. "Nobody really knows how long one should take these medications," said Medical Professor Walid Gellad from the University of Pittsburgh.
Prime Therapeutics and Magellan Rx Management, a pharmacy benefit manager in the US, analyzed data from 3364 individuals with insurance who took GLP-1 medications. They had received the medications between January and December 2021 due to a diagnosis of obesity or a Body-Mass-Index (BMI) of at least 30. GLP-1 medications were originally developed to control blood sugar in patients with Type-2 Diabetes. They suppress appetite and promote feelings of fullness. A study last year also showed that about two-thirds of patients stopped taking the medications after one year.
Doctors report that some patients discontinue the medications when they have successfully lost weight. Costs also play a role: For Wegovy and similar medications, thousands of dollars per month may have to be paid. However, other studies show that most patients who discontinue their GLP-1 medications regain the majority of their weight lost.
Despite the limited period availability of Wegovy and Ozempic for overweight people in the US, a US study revealed that only 25% of patients continued using these medications, originally designed for diabetes, for two years. The study conducted by Prime Therapeutics and Magellan Rx Management also revealed the use of slimming syringes by overweight individuals, as 66% stopped taking the medications after a year, leading to significant weight regain for most.
