New HealthCentral Poll Finds Side Effect
Worries, Costs Also Keep Many from Starting
ARLINGTON, Va., April 29,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The majority of patients
prescribed weight loss drugs for obesity stop taking them because
of side effects and cost, according to the results of a new
survey from HealthCentral, a leading digital platform focused on
informing and empowering people with chronic and serious
disease.
More than 28% said they stopped taking the drugs due to side
effects, while one in four said they stopped for other reasons,
which included cost. The drugs are often not covered by health
insurers and neither Medicare nor Medicaid cover the drugs for
weight loss. Only 11% said they stopped because the medication did
not help them lose weight, while 35% said the drugs worked for them
and they remain on them.
Click here to view the survey:
https://www.healthcentral.com/condition/obesity/6-revealing-things-you-told-us-about-the-latest-obesity-meds
Of the people with obesity who had not tried the new
medications, 29% pointed to concerns about side effects, while one
in four (25%) cited costs, which can run from $900 to $1,300 per
month or more without insurance coverage. The majority of
respondents (86%) said they would be willing to pay about
$100 per month.
The survey comes as new obesity medications, known as
glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists, are transforming the
treatment of obesity, even as they spark debate about access, side
effects, and the challenges of long-term use. The drugs can
cause nausea, diarrhea, and constipation, and less common but more
serious problems such as inflammation of the pancreas or
gastroparesis, in which the emptying of the stomach is delayed.
The survey is part of a HealthCentral series which includes
the latest on obesity science; the role of exercise in managing
obesity and lowering risk; GLP-1s and health disparities; the
emotional impact of obesity medications, and whether BMI and
weigh-ins at the doctor's office still matter.
More than 200 people responded to the online survey, conducted
from March 1 – April 1, 2024. Most respondents (72.7%) had been
told by a physician that their body weight contributed to a health
issue; 41% had tried an anti-obesity medication, most often via a
prescription from their doctor. A smaller percentage, 11%, got the
medication online.
Cost influences how people with obesity view the new
medications
The cost of GLP-1 drugs influences how patients with obesity
view the medications. While 30% see the drugs as necessary for
treatment of obesity and/or diabetes, nearly one in five said the
treatment cost means the drugs are only for those with insurance
that will cover them or for the wealthy. More than 25% said the
medications should be used only as a last resort and smaller
percentages said it was either a useful weight loss option (14%) or
a fad that will fade (12%).
"While it's clear that GLP-1 medications are changing the
treatment paradigm for people with obesity, our survey shows that
issues surrounding cost, access, disparities, and staying on the
medications long-term are influencing how patients view these drugs
and their disease overall," said Jo-Ann
Strangis, Chief Content Officer, HealthCentral Corp. "As use
of the drugs continues to skyrocket, it's crucial that we focus on
the issues that impact patients struggling to manage their
weight."
About HealthCentral
HealthCentral Corporation operates
leading digital platforms that serve patients living with chronic
illness, their care partners and health professionals who care for
them. HealthCentral Corporation's award-winning destinations
include HealthCentral, MedCentral, Patient Power, OBR Oncology,
TheBody, and TheBodyPro.
Media Contact:
Patricia
Garrison
908-591-3452
PR@healthcentral.com
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SOURCE HealthCentral