Virtual healthcare provider Omada Health recently published findings from a consumer survey that aimed to gain insights into the experiences of users taking GLP-1 receptor agonists.
The attitudinal survey, which included 1,000 non-Omada members ages 21 to 75, examined the impact of GLP-1 medications across the patient journey, exploring people’s emotions and experiences before, during and after using the weight loss treatments.
Omada’s survey shed light on significant patterns and challenges associated with the medications, revealing that the majority of users discontinue treatment before reaching their desired weight loss goals. The survey concluded that in order to sustain weight loss and overall well-being, interventions beyond just taking a GLP-1 drug are necessary.
GLP-1 drugs are a class of medications increasingly prescribed for weight loss and diabetes management. These include the blockbuster semaglutide medications Ozempic and Wegovy from Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly’s tirzepatide formulations Mounjaro and Zepbound, for diabetes and weight loss, respectively.
The survey found that over three-quarters (78 percent) of consumers discussed lifestyle changes either before or at the time of receiving a GLP-1 prescription from their healthcare provider.
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The data also highlight a strong emotional component to the weight loss journey, as 82 percent of respondents reported that their weight affected their emotional well-being before starting GLP-1 therapy, and 62 percent said that deciding to take a GLP-1 gave them a sense of hope.
Among those who discontinued the medication, 65 percent experienced feelings of anxiety, stress or depression, with over three-quarters of these individuals regaining weight after stopping treatment.
“This survey is critical to unpacking the complexity and ambiguity of the GLP-1 patient journey, while further emphasizing the need for support beyond prescribed weight loss medications,” said Omada Health’s chief medical officer Carolyn Bradner Jasik, MD, in a press release.
“While the findings were not shocking, we are hopeful that it will provide additional support for recognition that GLP-1s alone are not sufficient in producing sustained weight health outcomes unless paired with a behavior change program element,” she added.
After stopping GLP-1 therapy, 66 percent regained some of their lost weight, 23 percent maintained their weight loss and only 11 percent continued losing weight.
The survey found that primary care providers accounted for 73 percent of first-time GLP-1 prescribers (60 percent), followed by physician assistants (seven percent) and nurse practitioners (six percent).
More than 60 percent of participants encountered delays or issues when refilling their GLP-1 prescription, often resulting in switching pharmacies, skipping or reducing doses or changing brands.
The findings also highlighted challenges with access and cost, which affected patients’ ability to stay on their medication. Out-of-pocket costs led 35 percent of users to stop taking a GLP-1, while only 18 percent discontinued because they had reached their weight loss goal.
Presented at ObesityWeek 2024 (November 3 to 6), the study found that 75 percent of Omada members discontinued GLP-1s due to access issues, with 87 percent of the group having expressed a desire to continue their weight loss journey despite stopping the medication. The results underscore that most members stopped using GLP-1s due to access barriers, including financial ones, not because they had reached their weight loss goals.
It also underscored the need for supportive behavior change interventions.
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The findings align with insights from Omada Health’s recent study, “GLP-1 Discontinuation: Real-World Perspectives on a Complex Journey,” which analyzed real-world data from Omada’s programs and explored the experiences and needs of members who have used GLP-1 medications.
GLP-1 medications have become a sought-after option for weight loss, especially as obesity and high body mass index (BMI) levels remain widespread in the US. Recent data shows that 42 percent of Americans are living with obesity.
Omada Health’s commitment to understanding the GLP-1 patient journey is part of its ANSWERS (ANalyzing Success of WEight medication with Real-world evidence and Stats) initiative, launched earlier this year. The initiative aims to assess factors influencing medication use and explore how participation in lifestyle programs affects long-term weight health outcomes, with and without GLP-1 therapy, at a population level.
GlobalData projects that GLP-1 receptor agonists will become the top-selling drug class in 2024. By 2029, the drugs are expected to dominate the market, capturing 83 percent of sales, with Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro predicted to lead.
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