New Delhi, Sep 17
Even as injectable weight loss drugs have become a popular option for people struggling with obesity, 1 in 4 or 25 per cent consider using them without consulting their doctor, exposing themselves to several health risks, finds a study on Tuesday.
Cost and lack of insurance coverage are some reasons for seeking prescription alternatives, said the team from The Ohio State University, US, who surveyed 1,006 adults in America.
“Some people are skipping the doctor’s office and reaching out to potentially unreliable sources such as unlicensed online pharmacies or telehealth sites, which could expose patients to risks,” the team said.
Cost (18 per cent) is the major reason identified in the survey, followed by not being covered by insurance (15 per cent), inability to get a prescription from their doctor (9 per cent), and lack of availability through a pharmacy (6 per cent).
“It’s really important for those who want to lose weight to first discuss options with their doctor. It is not one size fits all, and every medication can have risks and side effects,” said Shengyi Mao, an Ohio State internal medicine physician.
Mao said doctors will “go through a patient’s medical history” and prescribe medications by assessing “their particular risks and benefits”.
Recently developed weight loss drugs called GLP1-RA (with brand names Ozempic and Wegovy) help in weight loss because they can curb appetite and slow emptying of the stomach.