While weight loss medications may offer a solution to obesity, they could also weigh on one’s wallet.
Wegovy is one such drug that has been proven to reduce the body mass index of teens and adults, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
This drug, and others like it, along with diet and exercise, are recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics for use in children who suffer from obesity, according to its latest guidelines. In some instances, bariatric surgery may also be recommended for obese teens.
Medical professionals have debated these more aggressive measures to treat obesity, with some saying that other weight loss interventions, such as lifestyle changes, should be implemented before considering surgery or drugs as an option, as previously reported in The Dallas Express.
One drawback to using the newly-approved weight loss drugs is the cost of the medication, making it prohibitive for some patients, especially if they must continue to use the medication to maintain their weight loss.
Wegovy, the brand name for semaglutide, currently costs just under $14,000 a month for weekly injections, according to Novo Nordisk, the drug manufacturer.
However, the company says this list price is not the price paid by most customers, as one’s insurance can offset the copay, which varies depending on one’s coverage. Novo Nordisk accepts various providers, such as Medicaid, Tricare, and VA.
But studies conducted on the efficacy of the drug suggest that there could be a rebound in weight if one discontinues the medication. One such study, published in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, found that participants regained two-thirds of their lost weight within a year of stopping weekly use of the drug.
Yolanda Hamilton, from South Holland, Illinois, told NPR she had been prescribed Wegovy and lost 60 pounds. “I was very surprised by how good I felt,” Hamilton said.
However, after she ceased taking the medicine for a few months due to a change in insurance coverage, she regained 20 pounds.
“I’m very frustrated about the weight coming back on in so little time,” Hamilton said, according to NPR.
“We’re seeing a lot of patients have this rebound weight gain, and it can really be devastating,” said Dr. Karla Robinson, a family physician in Charlotte, North Carolina.
“Unfortunately, being a new medication, it’s one of those that is subject to the pricing of the manufacturer,” she said.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, obesity is one of the top health concerns in the nation, and DFW has the 19th-most obese and overweight metropolitan population in the U.S., according to a recent study. Obesity is a contributing factor to other health issues such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.
