Making GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs Cheaper Isn’t Enough to Solve America’s Obesity Problem—Here’s Why

The Trump administration is making a significant effort to cut back the fee of weight reduction drugs. His A deal with pharmaceutical giantsannounced on November 6, 2025, Will reduce monthly costs of those drugs by lots of of dollars.

For the past 25 years, I even have Treated people with obesity And there may be Developed and studied treatments For the condition in each adults and adolescents. One of the key frustrations of my work is the undeniable fact that Evidence-based treatment are for obesity Badly underutilized

These drugs, originally approved to treat type 2 diabetes, mimic a natural hormone called glucagon-like peptide 1 that regulates blood sugar and reduces appetite.

In my view, by making GLP-1 drugs more accessible to patients, this agreement represents some of the necessary advances the federal government has made to combat obesity, one in all the nation's. Most public health problems. However, this low price tag alone may not make a meaningful dent in obesity rates amongst American adults without additional policy changes.

Treating obesity

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about 40% of adults within the United States — greater than 70 million people — There is obesity. Researchers and clinicians normally define obesity based on a measurement called body mass index, or BMI, which is the ratio of an individual's weight in kilograms to their height in meters.

BMI is an imperfect measure, to make certain, but most medical organizations consider an individual with one BMI greater than 30 Being obese

Between television commercials, social media ads, and suggestions from family and friends, Americans are bombarded with ways to reduce weight. For lots of these methods, there isn't a evidence that they successfully help people reduce weight. However, extensive and rigorous research supports using GLP-1s to treat obesity. Studies show that these drugs could be reliable Help people lose about 15 percent of their body weight In six to 12 months.

There are two other evidence-based approaches. Lifestyle changesresembling consuming fewer calories and increasing physical activity, may help people lose about 5% of their weight over the identical period. With surgical operation, now called metabolic and bariatric surgery, patients can achieve a Loss of about 30% of their body weight After about 18 months.

Which of those treatment approaches is acceptable for a given individual will depend on their circumstances and is best discussed with their healthcare provider. But in my experience, Very few health care professionals refer their patients Any of those treatments.

Addressing the fee constraint

According to a November 2025 survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation, 8 out of 8 adults in the US have tried GLP-1 medications. That might sound like rather a lot, but it surely's a given More than 40% of American adults There is obesity, it might not be enough.

In clinical trials, people normally take GLP-1 drugs to treat obesity They maintained their weight loss for a year If they persist with the medication. However, participants within the trials weren't required to pay for the drugs. Research shows that greater than half of individuals use drugs Stop taking them after six monthsactually because they can not afford them.

Federal government contracts with Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk This obstacle has to be removed.

GLP-1 drugs currently cost greater than $1,000 USD per 30 days for people unable to have them covered by medical insurance. Many insurance plans do not.

According to White House announcement on November 6starting in early 2026, a few of the GLP-1 drugs included within the agreement shall be available 350 per month or less The government plans to launch an internet market.

According to the announcement, some drugs shall be as low cost as $150. The corporations will even drop what Medicare and Medicaid pay for them, and a few Medicare patients will give you the option to access them with a $50 co-pay.

These prices are still in fluxreports the news. However, for many Americans, Paying even $150 a month A budget buster stays for a drug. This is particularly true People from lower socio-economic groups Experience high rates of obesity and infrequently produce other health conditions that require expensive medications.

These costs aren't temporary. Most patients with obesity and related health problems might want to use these medications indefinitely. According to emerging research, individuals who do normally stop taking them Reduce their weight. Realistically, only a few individuals who take GLP-1 drugs can maintain their weight reduction with lifestyle changes alone.

Beyond the value

Reducing the fee of GLP-1 drugs is a very important first step in increasing access to those treatments. Given the food environment people live in that makes it difficult to make healthy selections, I imagine this initiative will only profit the health of all Americans whether it is combined with other policy changes.

While several countries have one National plan to prevent and treat obesityAmerica doesn't. Instead, there are American public health policies Determine the mass state by state. These often include strategies resembling free school meals for youngsters or stronger insurance coverage to treat obesity and health-related conditions. However, most such policies are sometimes too small to yield significant advantages on the population level.

Broader policy changes and laws targeting obesity prevention could move the needle.

For example, research is increasingly showing this Ultraprocessed foods Play a task in Promote weight gain And possibly other diseases, eg Colorectal cancer. Lawmakers can draw on this research to raised regulate these foods – for instance, to limit using particularly harmful ingredients, limit the marketing of ultra-saucy products or limit their inclusion in class meals.

Another policy change that will help Create more comprehensive nutrition education In medical students and other health care provider training. This may higher position the subsequent generation of clinicians to assist their patients make healthy selections to take care of weight and health.

These and other policy changes shall be critical in future efforts to cut back obesity rates amongst Americans.