According to a study led by the Yale School of Public Health and the University of Florida, expanding access to new, highly effective weight-loss medications could save over 40,000 lives annually in the U.S. The research highlights the urgency of removing barriers that prevent people from accessing effective obesity treatments, a crucial step toward tackling the obesity epidemic. This study is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

 

Obesity’s impact on health is severe and well-documented, worsening conditions like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and some cancers. Despite these serious risks, effective obesity treatments have been slow to develop and deploy. However, recent advancements, especially with drugs such as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists (e.g., Ozempic and Wegovy) and dual gastric inhibitory polypeptide and GLP-1 (GIP/GLP-1) receptor agonists (e.g., tirzepatide), have shown significant weight-loss benefits in clinical trials and are increasingly used in weight management.

 

The researchers aimed to quantify how broader access to these medications might impact mortality rates. Using data on mortality risk by BMI category, obesity prevalence, and existing access limitations due to costs and insurance restrictions, they estimated that expanded access could reduce annual deaths by up to 42,027 — including around 11,769 among people with type 2 diabetes, who face increased risks from obesity. Currently, limited access saves approximately 8,592 lives each year, primarily among individuals with private insurance.

 

The study highlights the significant disparities in access due to high medication costs, which often exceed $1,000 monthly without insurance. The researchers emphasise that improving access to these medications isn’t just about treatment options; it’s an essential public health intervention. However, challenges remain: high drug prices, supply constraints, and profit considerations within the pharmaceutical industry hinder widespread availability. These findings indicate that addressing financial and coverage barriers could significantly reduce mortality. 

 

Overcoming these challenges requires a multifaceted approach. There is a need to bring drug prices more in line with manufacturing costs and boost production capacity while also addressing insurance and accessibility barriers that prevent many from obtaining needed treatments.

 

The researchers accounted for socioeconomic factors, adjusting estimates to consider income disparities and finding that the benefits of expanded access remained substantial. The study suggests that broader access to these medications could improve quality of life and reduce healthcare costs associated with obesity-related conditions.

 

Source: Yale School of Medicine

Image Credit: iStock 

 


References:

Pandey A, Ye Y, Wells CR et al. (2024) Estimating the lives that could be saved by expanded access to weight-loss drugs. PNAS. 121(43):e2412872121. 



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