Barriers and Solutions for Prescribing Obesity Pharmacotherapy

Ken Fujioka; Samantha R Harris

doi:10.1016/j.ecl.2020.02.007

Barriers and Solutions for Prescribing Obesity Pharmacotherapy

Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 2020 Jun;49(2):303-314. doi: 10.1016/j.ecl.2020.02.007.

Authors

Ken Fujioka¹, Samantha R Harris²

Affiliations

¹ Division of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Scripps Clinic Medical Group, 12395 El Camino Real, Suite 317, San Diego, CA 92130, USA.
² Division of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Scripps Clinic Medical Group, 12395 El Camino Real, Suite 317, San Diego, CA 92130, USA. Electronic address: Harris.Samantha@scrippshealth.org.

PMID: 32418592
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecl.2020.02.007

Abstract

There are many valid reasons why health care providers are reluctant to use pharmacotherapy for weight management: the negative track record of weight loss medications has led to numerous safety concerns, and there is lack of formal training in obesity medicine and a general discomfort with using these medications. New medications have improved safety profiles, and their mechanisms are based on recent discoveries of how humans regulate weight. This, combined with a change in American health coverage, has slowly increased the use weight loss medication. This article examines the barriers and changes that are increasing the use of anti-obesity medications.

Keywords: Barriers; Obesity; Pharmacotherapy; Reimbursement; Weight loss.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Anti-Obesity Agents / adverse effects
Anti-Obesity Agents / therapeutic use*
Drug Prescriptions / statistics & numerical data*
Humans
Insurance Coverage / statistics & numerical data*
Obesity / drug therapy*
Practice Patterns, Physicians' / statistics & numerical data*

Substances

Anti-Obesity Agents