5 months ago
FDA approves first GLP-1 pill for weight loss
Fox News elder aesculapian expert Dr. Marc Siegel joins 'America's Newsroom' to talk nan support of a GLP-1 pill for weight nonaccomplishment and compares it to injection-based alternatives.
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GLP-1 medications person dominated nan weight-loss landscape this twelvemonth — but immoderate older Americans are reportedly kicking nan inclination to nan curb.
A study published successful JAMA successful January 2025 — which looked astatine much than 125,000 overweight aliases obese group — recovered that astir 47% of those pinch type 2 glucosuria and 65% of those without glucosuria stopped taking their prescribed GLP-1s wrong a twelvemonth of starting them.
Dr. John Batsis, a geriatrician and obesity master astatine nan University of North Carolina School of Medicine, told The New York Times successful a caller study that group complete 65 years aged are "prime targets" for this medication, arsenic obesity prevalence is astir 40% successful older adults.
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These drugs, which mimic a earthy gut hormone called GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1), are chiefly utilized for type 2 glucosuria and weight management. However, they person besides been tested to target a assortment of different conditions, for illustration sleep apnea and cardiovascular events.
Older Americans person been discontinuing their usage of GLP-1s for weight loss, according to studies. (iStock)
Starting and stopping these narcotics often leads to weight regain, accrued appetite and nan nonaccomplishment of different associated wellness benefits, for illustration redued humor unit and cholesterol, according to Stamford Health and different experts. The consequence for obesity-related conditions, specified arsenic bosom illness and slumber apnea, whitethorn besides increase.
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Despite nan risks, immoderate older Americans are reportedly abandoning their weight-loss medications for a assortment of reasons, from aggravated broadside effects to climbing costs.
Below are 4 of nan main reasons seniors mightiness not instrumentality to their GLP-1 prescriptions.
No. 1: Cost
The value of GLP-1 medications is simply a awesome facet successful keeping up pinch treatment, particularly arsenic shortages frighten availability.
The New York Times shared nan communicative of 75-year-old Mary Bucklew, a nationalist transit retiree surviving successful Delaware, who had been paying conscionable a $25 monthly co-pay done her health security plan to person Ozempic for weight loss.
The value of GLP-1 medications for illustration Ozempic is simply a awesome facet successful keeping up pinch treatment, according to reports. (REUTERS/Hollie Adams/File Photo)
Bucklew mislaid 25 pounds successful six months and reportedly gained much energy. But her security institution notified her that they would nary longer screen nan drug, contempt her arguments that it was basal for her health.
Without nan coverage, Bucklew’s medicine would costs much than $1,000 per period retired of pocket, leaving her nary prime but to extremity taking it, per nan report.
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Some GLP-1 manufacturers person made efforts to make nan products much accessible. In December 2025, Lilly announced that it would little nan value of Zepbound (tirzepatide) single-dose vials.
"Far excessively galore group who request obesity treatments still look costs and sum barriers," said Ilya Yuffa, executive vice president and president for Lilly USA, successful nan announcement. "Today’s action underscores Lilly’s committedness to improving entree crossed nan obesity attraction landscape. We will support moving to supply much options — expanding choices for transportation devices and creating caller pathways for entree — truthful much group tin get nan medicines they need."
No. 2: Side effects
In an question and reply pinch Fox News Digital, Dr. Sue Decotiis, a aesculapian weight nonaccomplishment expert successful New York City, confirmed that much than half of seniors extremity taking a GLP-1 medicine owed to costs aliases broadside effects.
Gastrointestinal broadside effects are nan astir communal broadside effect of GLP-1s. (iStock)
Common broadside effects often see nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, bloating, headaches, fatigue and hairsbreadth thinning, according to experts.
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"Older patients whitethorn beryllium much delicate to nan GI broadside effects, too," Decotiis said. "Careful monitoring by a expert who is knowledgeable successful nan area of aesculapian weight nonaccomplishment is imperative."
No. 3: Dehydration
Older patients are often dehydrated from nan commencement and do not devour enough water to offset GLP-1 broadside effects, according to Decotiis.
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"A assemblage creation standard tin find h2o musculus wide and bony density, and tin show nan diligent by illustration what they request to do," she advised.
In Novo Nordisk’s charismatic Wegovy prescribing information, nan drugmaker warns that nausea, vomiting and diarrhea tin lead to dehydration, stating that it's "important to portion plentifulness of fluids to forestall dehydration," particularly for group pinch underlying kidney issues.
No. 4: Muscle loss
Muscle loss, which is different broadside effect of GLP-1 medications, tin beryllium "detrimental" successful this property group, Decotiis cautioned.
When group are dehydrated aliases don’t devour enough protein, they whitethorn suffer much musculus and little fat, she said.
Muscle wide nonaccomplishment occurs people pinch property and tin beryllium worsened by weight nonaccomplishment drugs, experts warn. (iStock)
An October 2024 reappraisal from nan American Heart Association cited 2 caller studies showing that little than half of nan weight mislaid from GLP-1 medications came from fat, pinch a important information coming from musculus mass.
The nonaccomplishment of musculus among older individuals tin lead to an accrued consequence of falls and fractures. After property 35, musculus wide whitethorn alteration by up to 2% each year, according to Harvard Health — and that number increases to 3% aft property 60.
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People tin return definite steps to antagonistic nan consequence of semaglutide-related musculus loss, experts agree.
"It starts pinch heightened surveillance from some nan diligent and nan physician," Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida-based neurosurgeon and longevity expert, antecedently told Fox News Digital. He recommends that physicians behaviour regular assemblage measurements of patients and set nan medication dosage if benchmarks are not being met.
Finding occurrence and sticking to it
Healthcare providers who o.k. nan usage of these medications without "carefully following" nan patients tin lend to nonaccomplishment of nan medications, according to Decotiis.
"Many of nan patients who discontinue their GLP-1 narcotics could person stayed connected them pinch nan correct personalized care."
"Often, utilizing a customized dosing scheme helps nan diligent debar undue broadside effects and helps them burn much fat, which is nan system by which GLP narcotics activity semipermanent and systemically," she told Fox News Digital. "For definite patients, a high-quality compounded GLP-1 tin execute tailored dosing."
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"Many of nan patients who discontinue their GLP-1 narcotics could person stayed connected them pinch nan correct personalized care."
Angelica Stabile is simply a manner newsman for Fox News Digital.
