A study from the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities analyzed the health barriers for racial and ethnic groups getting access to obesity-management medications.
Of the 91,100 studied individuals that were eligible for obesity-management medications, almost three quarters (68%) were obese. According to a release, “The researchers focused on all FDA-approved medications to treat obesity available during the time period of the study. They also conducted an analysis that considered potential off-label use of GLP-1 receptor agonists FDA-approved for the treatment of diabetes, which also may lead to weight loss.”
Findings showed Asians were the least likely to use obesity medications. When compared to whites, “Asians were 64% less likely, Blacks 49% less likely, and Hispanics 30% less likely” to use the medications, suggesting potential accessibility barriers.
