Survey shows 25% of adults consider weight loss drug use without prescription

Injectable weight reduction medicine are in style proper now however might be arduous to get as a result of they’re briefly provide or too costly with out insurance coverage. The result’s that some persons are skipping the physician’s workplace and reaching out to probably unreliable sources similar to unlicensed on-line pharmacies or telehealth websites, which may expose sufferers to dangers.

A brand new nationwide survey from The Ohio State College Wexner Medical Heart reveals 1 in 4 (25%) of 1,006 adults surveyed would think about using an injectable weight reduction treatment with out consulting their physician. The explanations embody:

Decrease value (18%)
Not coated by insurance coverage (15%)
Unable to get a prescription from their physician (9%)
Lack of availability via a pharmacy (6%)

“It is actually necessary for many who need to drop some weight to first focus on choices with their physician. It isn’t one measurement matches all, and each treatment can have dangers and unwanted side effects. A trusted physician can undergo a affected person’s medical historical past and present medicines to evaluate their explicit dangers and advantages,” stated Shengyi Mao, MD, an Ohio State inside medication doctor.

What are these new medicine for weight reduction?

GLP1-RA medicine (similar to model names Ozempic and Wegovy) had been initially developed to control blood sugar ranges in folks with kind 2 diabetes. Throughout security and efficacy research, researchers found the medicine may result in weight reduction as a result of they will curb urge for food and sluggish emptying of the abdomen. Some research have proven they will decrease the chance of coronary heart assault, stroke or cardiovascular dying. In March, the FDA accepted semaglutide for decreasing cardiovascular threat in adults who’re chubby or overweight and have established heart problems.

This 12 months, the FDA issued two warnings about compounded semaglutide together with reviews of dosing errors leading to hospitalization and ineffective substances. Compounded medicine are custom-made alternate options to model names and made in state-licensed pharmacies as a substitute of by drug producers when a drug is briefly provide.

The FDA has acquired reviews that some compounders could also be utilizing semaglutide salt, which is a distinct lively ingredient than the one accepted by the company. The FDA can also be investigating reviews of counterfeit Ozempic being marketed within the U.S.

“Weight problems is a critical and complicated power illness and should not be addressed in a one-size-fits-all strategy. That is why a complete weight administration program is usually the only option as a result of dropping pounds and protecting it off requires a life-style change and lifelong dedication,” Mao stated. “These weight reduction medicine could also be efficient for some folks however they will trigger critical unwanted side effects and the load might return after they cease taking them.”

Survey methodology

This survey was carried out on behalf of The Ohio State College Wexner Medical Heart by SSRS on its Opinion Panel Omnibus platform. The SSRS Opinion Panel Omnibus is a nationwide, twice-per-month, probability-based survey. Knowledge assortment was carried out from August 16—August 18, 2024, amongst a pattern of 1,006 respondents.

The survey was carried out by way of net (n=975) and phone (n=31) and administered in English. The margin of error for complete respondents is +/-3.8 share factors on the 95% confidence degree. All SSRS Opinion Panel Omnibus knowledge are weighted to characterize the goal inhabitants of U.S. adults ages 18 or older.