Weight Loss Medication Prescriptions Increased for Obesity Patients
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- Doctors are increasingly prescribing weight loss medication.
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Doctors are increasingly prescribing weight loss medication. This represents almost a doubling compared to 2024, according to figures from the Foundation for Pharmaceutical Figures.
An estimated 80,000+ people are now using medications such as Ozempic to lose weight. Until now, this medication was only prescribed to people with diabetes.
The increase is mainly due to the updated guidelines for general practitioners regarding obesity. The use of the medication was included in the guidelines last year.
insufficient effect
The medications are notably helpful for people who cannot lose weight through other means. “But you don’t just get it, there are strict criteria. Doctors must always first look at the cause,” says internist and professor of obesity Liesbeth van Rossum, affiliated with Erasmus MC in Rotterdam.
In addition, people must have unsuccessfully completed an official lifestyle program for at least one year to be eligible for reimbursement. “after that, you still have to go through that program,” says Van Rossum. “And then the criteria still vary depending on the medication.Its not as simple as just asking for a medication.”
It is indeed also critically important for patients to build up the medication very slowly and use it under the guidance of a doctor. “If you order it online yourself,you often build it up much too quickly and can approach it incorrectly,” says Van Rossum.
Push in the right direction
the weight loss tablets and pens were approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in 2015, but were not eligible for reimbursement until 2020, says Van Rossum. “In 2023, a guideline was already drawn up by doctors and paramedical staff, and shortly thereafter we saw an increase.” Now that it is in the guidelines
PHASE 1: ADVERSARIAL RESEARCH, FRESHNESS & BREAKING-NEWS CHECK
The provided text discusses new medications for obesity, focusing on how they work and the importance of lifestyle changes alongside their use. It mentions targeting brain reward centers to reduce cravings and mimicking gut hormones to create a feeling of fullness (“food noise”). It also emphasizes that these medications are not a “quick fix” and are likely needed for chronic use.
Factual Claim Verification & Updates (as of 2026/01/29 13:36:48):
* Obesity as a Chronic Disease: This is widely accepted by medical organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Medical Association (AMA). (WHO: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity; AMA: https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/health-policy/ama-recognizes-obesity-disease)
* Medications Targeting Brain Reward Centers: this refers to medications like GLP-1 receptor agonists (e.g., semaglutide, liraglutide) and dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonists (e.g., tirzepatide). These drugs do impact brain regions involved in appetite regulation and reward. (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK): https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/weight-management/medications-treating-overweight-obesity)
* Mimicking Gut Hormones: GLP-1 and GIP are incretin hormones released by the gut after eating. These medications mimic their effects,promoting satiety and slowing gastric emptying. (Harvard Medical School: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/glp-1-drugs-weight-loss-202307182678)
* “Food Noise”: This term, while popularized recently, accurately describes the intrusive thoughts about food experienced by individuals with obesity, frequently enough linked to dysregulation of reward pathways. Research supports the concept of altered brain activity in response to food cues in obesity. (University of California san Francisco: https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2023/12/food-noise-may-explain-why-some-people-struggle-lose-weight)
* Not a Quick Fix & Lifestyle Changes: This is a crucial point emphasized by all major medical guidelines. Medications are most effective when combined with diet and exercise. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/treatment/index.html)
* Chronic Use Likely: Current evidence suggests that discontinuation of these medications frequently enough leads to weight regain. Long-term maintenance is frequently required. (New England Journal of Medicine study on Semaglutide: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2208723)
* Potential for Discontinuation in Small Groups: Recent research does indicate that a subset of patients may be able to successfully discontinue medication under close medical supervision, but this is not the norm. (The Lancet study on Tirzepatide: [https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(23)02688-X/fulltext](https://www.thelancet.com/