The Importance of Obesity Treatment



It’s always a successful day at the office for
Fatima Cody Stanford, M.D., M.P.H.,M.P.A., when she can look at a patient’s chart, see a diagnosis of diabetes, high cholesterol or hypertension, and see progress in their health or resolution of a health concern.

Shanna Tucker, M.D., an obesity medicine specialist at NYU Langone Health, has a similar standard. If she can reduce the dosage or stop prescribing medication for one of these diseases, she knows her patient is on the right track.

When
obesity medicine specialists help patients with weight loss, their overall goal is far greater than achieving lower numbers on the scale. By treating a patient’s obesity, specialists are also helping patients manage and resolve other chronic conditions that threaten their overall health.

“Most of my patients have been with me for a decade or longer, so this is a lifetime commitment to their chronic disease that is obesity,” said Stanford, an associate professor of medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital and an obesity medicine physician-scientist. “I want to help them delete diagnoses from their chart — from their obesity itself to diseases associated with their obesity.”

Obesity can
reduce life expectancy because it generally increases the risk of other conditions and chronic diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease and liver disease. And it can also contribute to sleep problems, joint pain, mental health issues and some cancers. It was also found to be a top risk factor for Covid-related hospitalization and death.

Growing rates of obesity have created a significant public health issue in the U.S. More than
1 in 3 adults and 1 in 5 children are living with obesity, and the U.S. spends more than $147 billion a year on obesity-related healthcare.

Tucker said many patients come to her in frustration because they’re already eating well and exercising. They’ve lost some weight, but they can’t seem to lose any more or their weight has started climbing. They’re also struggling with chronic health conditions made worse by obesity.

“Not enough medical providers may understand that sometimes additional treatment is necessary for many patients,” Tucker said.

The benefits of anti-obesity medications

Obesity medicine specialists tailor plans for patients that can include a combination of lifestyle management, medication and, in some cases, surgery.

Anti-obesity medications (AOMs) have been getting a lot of attention in the media, with many public figures attributing their weight loss to the use of these medicines. While anti-obesity medications aren’t new — the FDA first began
approving them in 1959 — the current class of GLP-1 medications like semaglutide have become household names (Ozempic/Wegovy and Mounjaro/Zepbound) for their ability to help people achieve significant weight loss.

While the weight loss achieved through GLP-1 medications makes headlines, obesity medicine specialists have a broader view of the medications’ benefits and see how they can offer quicker resolution to chronic diseases. A
meta-analysis (a review of many studies) shows that anti-obesity medications can contribute to a significant reduction in cardiovascular events, like heart attacks and strokes, and hospital admission for heart failure in people with Type 2 diabetes.

Tucker said people living with obesity don’t have to lose a lot of weight to see results. Even just a
5%–10% drop in weight can help improve high cholesterol or high blood pressure. Weight loss can also be important for quality-of-life improvements, such as allowing people to move more easily, sleep better, experience less joint pain and have more energy.

“I know a lot of people don’t want to start a new medication, but by treating obesity, I’ve had patients who’ve had a significant amount of weight loss and were able to start decreasing the dose of their diabetes medication or even stop their high blood pressure or high cholesterol medications,” Tucker said. “I say to keep the big picture in mind about the potential benefits of anti-obesity medication.”

Barriers to obesity treatment

Although effective obesity treatment can improve health outcomes and yield substantial savings for the nation’s healthcare system, many Americans don’t have access to obesity care.

Not enough healthcare providers are trained in obesity medicine, Tucker said, and the cost of the medications themselves can prevent patients from being able to get them. There’s also no guarantee that the medication will be covered by insurance or available to Medicaid and Medicare recipients.

“I think we’re really doing a disservice to these patients,” Tucker said. “They’ve already sought help and have made an appointment and come into my office. To get that far and not be able to prescribe a medication because of insurance is very disappointing.”

Since each state Medicaid plan has its own policies for obesity treatment coverage, many people don’t have access to anti-obesity medications. And, at the federal level, Medicare Part D still prohibits coverage of AOMs for most patients, even though people covered under the Veterans Affairs/Department of Defense and Federal Employee Health Benefits plans do have access to the full continuum of care for obesity. Stanford said she’s hoping the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act, first introduced in Congress in 2012 and reintroduced each session since, will become federal law to help expand coverage for Medicaid and Medicare patients.

Watch: Congressional Briefing: Ensuring Patient Access to Effective Treatments for Obesity >>

Stanford said she’s seen older adults who’ve made significant progress getting rid of chronic conditions through treatment lose all of their progress when they enroll in Medicare and can no longer afford their medication if they lose coverage for their medication.

Stanford also pointed out other disparities in who’s most likely to have access to treatment.

“The populations most likely to benefit, particularly racial and ethnic minority populations here in the U.S., are struggling to get these meds,” Stanford said. “We have to get past the idea that people just need to eat less and exercise more, which is founded not on science. I want to change that narrative. We can do better to help those who need it.”

Still, for people who are struggling with obesity and other chronic health conditions, Tucker said it’s worth talking to your healthcare provider to see if some type of obesity treatment can help.

“I know some patients may want to avoid the topic, and I can understand why for many reasons,” Tucker said. “There’s a lot of obesity bias or weight bias in the medical community. I do encourage people to at least ask their [healthcare provider] what resources are available if they’re interested in losing weight so they have all the information and resources to help them make the best next step.”

Help Us Increase Access to Obesity Treatment >>

This educational resource was created with support from Novo Nordisk, a HealthyWomen Corporate Advisory Council member.

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Trying an Anti-Obesity Medication Changed My Life


As told to Jacquelyne Froeber

When my sister turned 13, I bought her a ring that said, “I hope you dance.”

I cried the first time I heard that song. The lyrics said everything I wanted for my sister. I want her to be confident and strong. I want her to take chances and live with no regrets.

I want her to dance.

This idea resonated with me because I’ve always wanted the same for myself. As a woman living with obesity, I’ve worked hard — very hard — to feel confident in my skin and love myself. But when I turned 40, the weight started to feel different.

One night I was getting ready to go out with my husband and our friends and I started dancing to the song “Work Bitch” by Britany Spears. Before I could say, “Look hot in a tankini,” I was sweating my makeup off. I was so out of breath I had to sit down. Perched on the edge of the bed — sweat pooling in my cleavage — I realized my body no longer worked like it did when I was in my 20s and 30s. Before I could sing and jump around. Now I couldn’t make it to the chorus.

Panic started to creep up my neck, and I tried my best to push the realization away. But I didn’t push too far. I needed to remember not to dance. Not in public. Maybe never again. And that stirred a restlessness within me.

A few weeks later, I went to my doctor for a routine visit. He asked me very casually if I wanted to try a new medication for weight loss. He explained the drug would help my stomach digest food more slowly and it also would signal to my brain that I was full.

At that time, I’d heard a few rumors about celebrities taking weight-loss drugs, but anti-obesity medications (AOMs) weren’t a household name then.

To be honest, it sounded too good to be true, but I was game. I’d tried many fad diets and weight-loss programs over the years in an effort to be healthier. I knew extra weight wasn’t good for me — I knew it wasn’t good for anyone. But when nothing really helped, I had to move forward and accept that I was living in a larger body. And that was OK.

But leaving the office with the prescription, I felt the restlessness dial back in my chest. Maybe this was the change I needed.

The next day my insurance company called and told me they wouldn’t cover the medication. My heart sank. I felt like a fool — a completely devastated fool. The detached voice went on to say that I could, however, buy it without insurance for about what I pay for my mortgage each month.

And that was that. I hung up and cried. I cursed myself for feeling like something could change. I cursed myself for thinking I should change. I cursed myself for telling my husband about it. Now both of us were stuck on this roller coaster.

Like everyone else on the planet, I turned to TikTok to distract myself. I was only a few swipes in when I saw it: a coupon for the medication. Was it real? I did a quick calculation, and if the discount was legit, and there was more than one coupon, I could afford it. I called my doctor, confirmed the coupons were real, and started taking the medication that night.

Jessi in her hometown of Fenton, Michigan (2024)Jessi in her hometown of Fenton, Michigan (2024)

It felt like Christmas morning when I woke up the next day. I was excited and nervous to see what the day would bring. I didn’t feel bad in any way, so that was good. I went about my morning and forgot about the AOM until I made a breakfast sandwich. After eating about half the sandwich, I realized I didn’t want to eat anymore. “That’s weird,” I thought. Then it hit me: The medication worked. I felt full and satisfied. I wasn’t starving. Another upside: I also had lunch. I wrapped up the rest of the sandwich and took it with me to work.

That was the first day I started to realize how much of my time revolved around food. I’m someone who gets excited about meals and trying new foods and restaurants. But looking back, I was always thinking about food and/or planning to eat. I never stopped. My husband once told me that he didn’t think about food constantly like I did. I didn’t really understand what that meant until I started taking the AOM. Don’t get me wrong, I still get excited about food, but now it’s more of an occasion vs. obsession.

Every day, I wake up grateful for the medication. But I know not everyone who is living with obesity has access to an AOM. Without the coupons, I may never have been able to get the treatment I needed.

I’ve been taking an AOM for more than a year now and I’ve lost a significant amount of weight. The other day, I asked my husband what’s changed the most about me since I started taking it. He said I dance more. Of course it was a cute answer — I love my husband — but it was a dagger to my heart. It was a sad realization that I spent a lot of time not dancing and not moving because my body wouldn’t let me. I think it’s hard for people not living with obesity to understand that there may be things you can’t physically do even though you want to. That’s why I’m so thankful for the medication. It’s given me the chance to turn that restlessness into rhythm. Now I dance all the time.

I hope you dance, too.

HealthyWomen does not endorse getting medical advice from social media.

This educational resource was created with support from Eli Lilly and Company, a Corporate Advisory Council member.

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Our Real Women, Real Stories are the authentic experiences of real-life women. The views, opinions and experiences shared in these stories are not endorsed by HealthyWomen and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of HealthyWomen.

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What Are Biosimilars? – HealthyWomen



Slide 1

Biosimilars 101

Biosimilars work just as well as the drugs they’re modeled after — and they’re often more affordable. This quick guide will help you understand whether biosimilars could be an option for you.

Slide 2

What are biosimilars?

Biosimilars are copies of a type of drug called biologics . Biologics are drugs made from a natural source, such as plant or human cells. Biologics and biosimilars are used to treat a variety of health problems, including:

Slide 3

Biosimilars are safe and effective

Biosimilars are nearly identical to biologics, working in the same way to treat many of the same health problems. They are safe, effective and FDA-approved.

Slide 4

Lower production costs = cheaper drugs

Because they’re much cheaper to produce, biosimilars are more affordable than biologics — which are among the most expensive medications in the world. Biologics used to treat RA, for example, can cost $30,000 a year .

Slide 5

Picking possible candidates

Companies decide to create biosimilars based on factors such as how much they will cost and whether they have a good chance of working the same way as a biologic.

Slide 6

Meeting FDA standards

Once they’ve decided to create a biosimilar, a company analyzes and compares data to develop a drug that meets the FDA’s high standards. The biosimilar is tested many times to prove it works in the exact same way as the original biologic.

Slide 7

Availability of biosimilars

Currently, there are 44 biosimilars approved by the FDA for use in the United States.

These include 10 biosimilars modeled after a dalimumab (Humira), a medicine used to treat autoimmune issues.

Slide 8

Roadblocks to biosimilars

Although demand for biosimilars is growing in the U.S., they’re still not as widely used here as they are in other countries.

This may be because some biologic manufacturers have tried to block their development, and because some insurance companies aren’t willing to cover them.

Slide 9

Helping people access treatment

Biosimilars are important to our healthcare system because they provide a more affordable option for patients who might not otherwise be able to access treatment.

Biosimilars are 30% cheaper on average than their biologic counterparts.

Slide 10

Are biosimilars right for you?

If you are currently using a biologic, ask your healthcare provider about biosimilars. It’s possible there is an equally safe and effective option available to you, at a lower cost.

This educational resource was created with support from Amgen, a HealthyWomen Corporate Advisory Council member.



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