Estimating the lives that could be saved by expanded access to weight-loss drugs

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2412872121
• Publication Date: 2024-10-15T17:32:41Z
• Authors: Abhishek Pandey; Yang Ye; Chad R. Wells; Burton H. Singer; Alison P. Galvani
• Keywords: Male; Adult; Weight Loss; Humans; Female; Obesity; Anti-Obesity Agents; Biological Sciences; Middle Aged; United States; Health Services Accessibility; Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor

Obesity is a major public health crisis in the United States (US) affecting 42% of population, exacerbating spectrum other diseases and contributing significantly to morbidity mortality overall. Recent advances pharmaceutical interventions, particularly glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists (e.g., semaglutide, liraglutide) dual gastric inhibitory polypeptide GLP-1 tirzepatide), have shown remarkable efficacy weight-loss. However, limited access these medications due high costs insurance coverage issues restricts their utility mitigating obesity epidemic. We quantify annual burden directly attributable US. By integrating hazard ratios across body mass index categories with current prevalence data, combined healthcare access, willingness take medication, observed adherence medications, we estimate impact making accessible all those eligible. Specifically, project that expanded over 42,000 deaths could be averted annually, including more than 11,000 among people type 2 diabetes. These findings underscore urgent need address barriers highlight transformative achieved by expanding novel treatments.