Semaglutide survey: Exclusive physician results on benefits, challenges of new obesity drugs

Author(s):

Grace Halsey

Key Takeaways

Over 75% of family and internal medicine physicians have prescribed GLP-1 receptor agonists for weight loss.
The survey examined physicians' experiences with GLP-1RAs, focusing on effectiveness, side effects, and cost.
Physicians and patients consider both the benefits and potential drawbacks, including side effects and financial implications.

Doctors offer insights on the how they and their patients are using GLP-1RA medicines.

If it feels like the new antiobesity medicines are everywhere, you may not far off.

More than three-quarters of family medicine and internal medicine physicians said they have prescribed the drugs, according to survey, “Physician Use and Perceptions of GLP-1 Drugs for Weight Loss.” That online poll was posted this fall by Medical Economics and sister publication Patient Care.

The survey asked physicians about their experiences, and those of their patients, using the new Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist drugs (GLP-1RAs).

So, are the drugs all hype or truly helpful? What about side effects? Is cost a factor in physician and patient decision-making?

Here are the results.