Obesity

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Obesity Drugs

? 1 big thing: Obesity drugs' red flags

Illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axios

Even as encouraging data fuels the hype around new obesity drugs, regulators are racing to better understand possible health risks that are still emerging in a market projected to be worth tens of billions of dollars, Axios' Caitlin Owens writes. Why it matters: Weight-loss drugs like Ozempic have quickly become a cultural phenomenon and a source of hope for people with obesity and related health conditions. But recent reports of potential side effects, including suicidal thoughts, have raised concerns. What's happening: The U.K.'s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency told Reuters last week that it's reviewing safety data on the drug class after patients reported suicidal or self-harming thoughts. The European Medicines Agency announced a similar review. Experts have also flagged concerns around older adults taking the drugs, particularly because the drugs could cause them to lose too much muscle mass, The New York Times reports. ? Between the lines: Nearly every drug on the market comes with some kind of risk or trade-off, and obesity itself clearly presents serious health risks. But drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro have become popular among people who aren't obese but simply want to lose weight — presenting a different risk-benefit calculation. Read on.

[Rahab]

The drug was developed from venom extracted from the gila monster. 
not good ?

[phkrause]

Stunning obesity trend

Data: CDC; Note: 2020 value based on responses collected 2017–2020; Chart: Axios Visuals The obesity rate in the U.S. has stopped climbing — a remarkable trend shift after decades of growth, Axios' Caitlin Owens reports. It may even be declining, but the change is too small to say for sure. Either way, it's good news. ? The big picture: In the last few years a sea change has occurred in how obesity is understood, with the focus shifting away from personal willpower toward seeing obesity as a disease. And with the emergence of drugs like Ozempic, the U.S. has tools that could eventually help bring obesity rates down. ? Yes, but: Severe obesity has been rising, reaching a rate of nearly 10% of U.S. adults, according to recent CDC data. Just over 40% of adults are considered obese — still an alarmingly high rate, given the condition's health risks. ? What we're watching: New anti-obesity drugs are remarkably effective, but their success in lowering the obesity rate will depend on how many people end up having access to them. Current prices are prohibitive for many insurers, businesses and government payers.

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Stat du jour

Illustration: Tiffany Herring/Axios

Since 1990, the rate of obesity has doubled among adults to 40%, a study published this week in The Lancet found. Nearly three-quarters of adults in America and more than a third of children are now overweight or obese, The New York Times reports. ? Among the factors driving the increase is the wide availability of ultra-processed foods, like chips and sugary cereals, which now comprise 73% of America's food supply.

[phkrause]

Cheap Ozempic? How millions of Americans with obesity may get access to costly weight-loss drugs

WASHINGTON (AP) — Millions of obese Americans would get access to popular weekly injectables that would help them shed pounds quickly if a $ 35 billion proposal from the Biden administration is blessed by President-elect Donald Trump.

https://apnews.com/article/ozempic-biden-wegovy-trump-rfk-jr-hhs-229391ee890bb37574ac08d70b991363?

[phkrause]

? Demand booms for anti-obesity drugs

Data: PurpleLab HealthNexus database. Map: Axios Visuals The number of prescriptions for GLP-1 drugs jumped roughly 10% in 2024, Axios' Tina Reed reports, from insurance claims data provided to Axios by health analytics company PurpleLab. Why it matters: Demand is booming for these drugs, hailed as game-changers in the fight against obesity. ? By the numbers: Rhode Island (67.8%), Massachusetts (48%) and New Jersey (35.8%) saw the largest year-over-year growth in prescriptions dispensed between 2023 and 2024. Keep reading.

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New obesity lens

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Obesity wouldn't be solely defined by BMI under a proposal unveiled this evening by a group of global experts, AP's JoNel Aleccia writes. Why it matters: The new definition would reduce the emphasis on the controversial body mass index (BMI) — in order to better identify people who need treatment for the disease caused by excess body fat. "The whole goal of this is to get a more precise definition so that we are targeting the people who actually need the help most," said David Cummings, an obesity expert at the University of Washington and one of 58 authors of a new paper in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology journal. Under the new criteria, about 20% of people who used to be classified as obese would no longer meet the definition. About 20% of people with serious health effects, but lower BMI, would now be considered clinically obese. ? What's new: The report introduces two new diagnostic categories — clinical obesity and pre-clinical obesity. People with clinical obesity meet BMI and other markers of obesity and have evidence of organ, tissue or other problems caused by excess weight. That could include heart disease, high blood pressure, liver or kidney disease, or chronic severe knee or hip pain. These people would be eligible for treatments, including diet and exercise interventions and obesity medications. People with pre-clinical obesity are at risk for those conditions but have no ongoing illness. Between the lines: BMI has long been considered a flawed measure that can over-diagnose or underdiagnose obesity, defined as a BMI of 30 or more. But people with excess body fat don't always have a BMI above 30. And people with high muscle mass — football players or other athletes — may have a high BMI, despite normal fat mass. ? Reality check: The new definitions are likely to be confusing, said Kate Bauer, a nutrition expert at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. "The public likes and needs simple messages. I don't think this differentiation is going to change anything," she said. The bottom line: Overhauling the definition of obesity will take time, acknowledged Robert Kushner, an obesity expert at the Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine and a co-author of the report. "This is the first step in the process," he said. "I think it's going to begin the conversation." Go deeper: Read the abstract.

[phkrause]

Global experts propose new plan for diagnosing obesity outside of BMI A group of global experts is proposing a new way to define and diagnose obesity, reducing the emphasis on the controversial body mass index and hoping to better identify people who need treatment for the disease caused by excess body fat. Read more.

Why this matters: Obesity is estimated to affect more than 1 billion people worldwide. In the U.S., about 40% of adults have obesity, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “The whole goal of this is to get a more precise definition so that we are targeting the people who actually need the help most,” said Dr. David Cummings, an obesity expert at the University of Washington and one of the 58 authors of the published report.

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Is Obesity in Your Genes?

Your genes are why your eyes are brown and your hair is red. They’re what make you, well, you. But can genetics determine the size of your jeans?

https://www.webmd.com/obesity/features/cm/weight-fate?

[Asia Joe]

On 3/5/2025 at 2:07 AM, phkrause said:

But can genetics determine the size of your jeans?

 

There is evidence that a family history of diabetes, can make you more likely to developed diabetes. Just as Native Americans can be effected to alcohol, however, there are many factors.

[Asia Joe]

As someone who has studied weight loose for over 20 years, I can tell you it is very complex.  The modern overweight problem throughout the world is caused by MANY factors. The research has gotten much better. One thing that is clear. There is no one cause. It is a combination of things.

It is also very difficult to lose fat. The younger you are, the easier it is.

It is not just exercising more and eating less. It is more complicated. Much more complicated.

 

[phkrause]

Understanding GLP-1 Agonists for Weight Loss in Adults With Obesity

Obesity can affect your health and quality of life in so many ways. Carrying extra weight increases your risk for type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers. It also can cause depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. 

https://www.webmd.com/obesity/cm/understanding-glp1-weight-loss?

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Health Problems Related to Obesity

https://www.webmd.com/obesity/ss/cm/slideshow-obesity-health-problems?