Less than half of people on weight loss medications such as Wegovy and Saxenda reportedly continue to take the medications for 12 weeks or more. Research by Blue Shield, which has yet to be published in a peer-reviewed journal, states that 30% of people stopped treatment within four weeks before they had reached their target dose. In all, more than half of those studied quit the medications before 12 weeks. When looking at patients using GLP-1 drugs for weight management, findings show that most individuals did not stay on their prescribed treatment for a minimum of 12 weeks, suggesting that they were unlikely to achieve clinically meaningful weight loss.
People prescribed drugs like Wegovy build up their dosage over some time before reaching their target dose. However, the Blue Shield research suggests that 3 in 10 people stop taking these medications before their target dose is reached. The goal is for patients to stay on this for a significant amount of time. Most likely beyond 12 weeks (about 3 months). For instance, for semaglutide, the idea is that every month you go up a dose. So, it takes about six months to get to the highest therapeutic dose. Not everybody gets it, but it is a long-term medication and to get the highest benefit you stay on it for multiple months.
Doctors say that there is a lack of discussion around the barriers that can impact a patient’s ability to adhere to treatment, including disease bias or stigma, supply constraints, and access to medicines. The American Medical Association has also raised serious concerns about aggressive utilization management techniques and published a physician survey in 2022 which shows that 94% of physicians report care delays due to prior authorization, 64% reported that prior authorization has led to ineffective treatment, and many reported prior authorization challenges have led to additional office visits, urgent care, or emergency room trips.
Obesity is a chronic, progressive, and misunderstood disease that requires long-term medical management, much like high blood pressure or high cholesterol, for which most patients remain on therapy long-term to continue to experience the benefits of their medications.
In the United States, 73% of adults aged 20 and older are overweight or have obesity. In addition, 42% of adults have obesity and 9% have severe obesity. In children and adolescents, roughly 1 in 6 are overweight, 1 in 5 have obesity, and 1 in 16 have severe obesity. A 2023 poll found that 45% of people said they would be interested in taking a prescription weight loss drug if it was safe and effective. These can be good for individuals who have tried every other avenue and have been unsuccessful and who, for medical reasons, need this medication. I think it’s not good for individuals who just ‘want’ to lose weight for reasons related more to outward appearances but might otherwise be healthy and therefore do not have a true medical need. Cost, healthcare access, issues obtaining medications, and side effects are just some of the many potential reasons people on weight loss medications may discontinue use.
