By Dr. Nick van Terheyden aka Dr. Nick
LinkedIn: Nick van Terheyden, MD
X: @drnic1
Host of Dr. Nick: The Incrementalist – #TheIncrementalist
New Obesity Medications Offer Hope But Not a Panacea
On this episode I talked to Carolyn Jasik, MD, (@DrJasik) CMO for Omada Health, a virtual-first chronic care provider helping members make lasting changes to improve health and reduce care costs for organizations.
Episode NOW on Demand
Excitement is growing around new GLP-1 receptor agonist medications for treating obesity, with promising weight loss results. However, Carolyn cautions that while beneficial, these drugs are not a silver bullet solution to the obesity epidemic. She highlights concerns around side effects leading many to discontinue treatment, the high costs limiting access, and the need for continued lifestyle changes.
We discuss that “there is no panacea in weight loss.” Though medications like GLP-1 agonists can provide an effective “kickstart,” behavior changes around diet and activity levels remain crucial long-term. She notes bariatric surgery has shown weight often returns once interventions cease and the GLP-1 agonists are no different. Even for diabetes remission, success depends on maintaining lifestyle changes. it is important to address the root drivers like nutrition quality, food security, community design, and physical movement are imperative to create population-level change.
More Than a Pill
Listen in to hear how we are optimistic about the expanding drug pipeline, but systemic barriers must still be addressed to fully leverage new obesity treatments. This includes tackling prohibitive costs and targeting access, determining the appropriate duration of therapies, and embedding more comprehensive behavior change within standard care models. Though not a magic bullet, adding new pharmacological options to the toolbox, alongside policy changes enabling their smart deployment, can help confront the considerable individual and societal toll of obesity.
This article was originally published on the Dr. Nick – The Incrementalist blog and is republished here with permission.
About the Show
About the Show
For years Dr. Nick van Terheyden aka Dr. Nick, has served as a voice on the impact of new technologies on healthcare, earning a reputation as a leading authority on where the future of medicine is going. Combining powers of observation and real world experience, Dr. Nick has seen many predictions come true and makes the case that innovations in healthcare can be accomplished incrementally, not just by moonshot events. Tune in to hear Dr. Nick: The Incrementalist and his guests discuss what the future of healthcare looks like, how we will get there, and what it will take to improve healthcare for all.
Tune in weekdays at 4:00am, 12 noon, and 8:00pm ET.
Follow the Social Hashtag at #TheIncrementalist