Patient safety org says it is time to review new evidence for FDA-approved weight loss drugs

PLYMOUTH MEETING, PA—With rates of obesity and diabetes at record highs, the nation’s largest nonprofit patient safety organization is calling on healthcare leaders to change their approach and fully embrace FDA-approved weight-loss drugs. A report from ECRI outlines a series of myths about weight-loss medication—such as their perceived inconsequence for losing weight and long-term ineffectiveness for keeping it off—that have led to them being dramatically under-used. A large body of evidence shows that these drugs are beneficial as an adjunct to diet, exercise, and counseling and should be considered for first-line treatment in many patients, says ECRI.

 

“Obesity is an epidemic and we need comprehensive evidence-based solutions,” says Marcus Schabacker, MD, PhD, president and CEO of ECRI. “By shining a spotlight on promising new evidence for weight-loss medications, we hope healthcare stakeholders and policymakers will adopt policies that better reflect current evidence-based conclusions on obesity.”

 

ECRI researchers identified several reasons for the low rate of weight-loss drug use, including widespread skepticism of drugs’ efficacy, unrealistic expectations of rapid weight loss, and personal beliefs that individuals should lose weight through their own efforts alone.

 

They say the key barrier, however, is financial. Subcutaneous, monthly injections list for around $1,200 for one dose. Oral medications can cost up to $250 for a one-month supply.

 

“Initial evidence is favorable for the effectiveness of weight-loss drugs, but insurance coverage is extremely limited, discouraging doctors from prescribing them and patients from using them,” says Schabacker. “Insurers’ unwillingness to cover weight-loss medication puts it out of reach, especially for people with low incomes who experience obesity disproportionately.”

 

Weight-loss drugs are excluded from Medicare Part D plan requirements, and most Medicaid state plans and private plans qualifying for Affordable Care Act subsidies do not cover weight-loss drugs.

 

While ECRI identifies price as the main barrier, the researchers say many physicians have negative opinions of weight-loss medication based on out-of-date evidence or personal beliefs that people who are overweight or obese should lose weight through willpower and behavior change alone, leading to low prescribing rates for weight-loss drugs.

 

“The United States has struggled to follow an evidence-based approach to reduce obesity,” says Dheerendra Kommala, MD, chief medical officer of ECRI. “The case of weight-loss drugs illustrates the need for continuous reevaluation in evidence-based medicine to prevent outdated perceptions from taking root, address evidence gaps, and evaluate emerging interventions.”

 

ECRI urges stakeholders to follow the FDA’s evidence-based decisions in approving the use of weight-loss medicines, which can improve population health and decrease downstream costs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 70% of Americans are considered overweight or obese, and the annual cost of obesity on the U.S. healthcare system is estimated at $173 billion.

 

“Millions of people in America resolve to live healthier lives in 2023, possibly including weight loss among their goals,” says Schabacker. “Physicians must set aside the misinformation about weight-loss drugs, and personal biases about whether and how people can recover from obesity. Every person who loses excess weight improves their health, decreases the likelihood of future medical issues, and cuts healthcare costs. We need to use every tool in our arsenal to help them.”

 

ECRI notes that stakeholder coordination and communication, including with manufacturers, is critical to maintain a sufficient supply of drugs able to meet current and future demand, especially for those who rely on the medications for diabetes management.

 

Read the ECRI position paper, “Outdated Notions and Persisting Misconceptions Bar the Way to Effective Obesity Treatment“.

 

Source: ECRI