Medicare/Medicaid and Anti-Obesity Drugs: What Will Actually Be Covered in 2025–2026
For Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, the stakes are especially high. These programs cover more than 100 million Americans combined, many of whom live with obesity and related complications such as diabetes and heart disease. Obesity remains one of the most pressing health challenges in the United States, affecting more than 40% of adults and contributing […]
Obesity Burden in the US: Latest CDC Maps and Trends
Introduction Obesity continues to be one of the most urgent public health concerns in the United States, shaping the trajectory of chronic disease, healthcare spending, and quality of life for millions of adults and children. The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) […]
Gray Market and GLP-1 Compounding: FDA Position After Supply Stabilization
Introduction The explosive demand for GLP-1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide and tirzepatide has reshaped obesity and diabetes care in the United States. Yet the popularity of these medications far outpaced manufacturing capacity from 2022 through 2024, leading to persistent shortages. During this period, compounding pharmacies stepped into the gap, offering customized or off-label formulations […]
Commercial Insurance: What Are ‘Non-Metabolic’ Indications Shifting?
Introduction For years, commercial health insurers have hesitated to cover anti-obesity drugs, often labeling them as “lifestyle” treatments rather than true medical therapy. Patients who wanted access to new medications like Wegovy or Zepbound often faced denials, high out-of-pocket costs, or restrictive prior authorization rules. That picture is now beginning to change, thanks to a […]
New FDA indications: How they change access to anti-obesity drugs
Introduction Obesity is no longer viewed solely as a lifestyle problem; it is increasingly recognized as a chronic disease with multiple comorbidities that demand long-term medical management. The rapid rise of GLP-1 receptor agonists, including semaglutide (Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Zepbound), has transformed treatment expectations by offering both clinically significant weight loss and measurable improvements in […]
2025 Clinical Standards: Where Pharmacotherapy Fits
Obesity has long been recognized as a major driver of type 2 diabetes (T2D), yet until recently, treatment approaches in clinical practice often emphasized lifestyle change while giving limited attention to pharmacotherapy. The landscape shifted dramatically with the advent of GLP-1 receptor agonists and dual GIP/GLP-1 agents, which demonstrated not only substantial weight reduction but […]
