Antiobesity Medication Use Among Overweight and Obese Adults in the United States: 2015-2018

Objective: To estimate the utilization of U.S. Food and Drug Administratione- approved prescription antiobesity medications (AOMs) and to identify factors associated with AOM use in the United States. Methods: Respondents aged >= 18 years meeting AOM eligibility criteria in the 2015-2016 and 2017-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and the 2016 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey were included in the study. AOM eligibility was defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of >= 30 kg/m(2) or having a BMI between 27 and 29.9 kg/m(2) and at least 1 obesity-related comorbidity. Demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical characteristics, economic outcomes, and health-related quality of life were summarized and compared between AOM users and nonusers. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors that were associated with AOM use. Results: Only 0.80% of eligible adults reported using AOMs in the past 30 days in 2015-2016 and 2017-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. A greater proportion of current AOM users previously tried dietary changes compared with nonusers. They also reported an average weight loss of 3.1 kg over the previous year compared with a 1.5-kg gain among the nonusers. The total health care costs trended higher among AOM users, driven mostly by higher outpatient service costs. A BMI of >= 30 kg/m(2), depression, dyslipidemia, and infertility predicted AOM use, whereas Medicare and being at risk of sleep apnea were associated with lower odds of AOM use. Conclusion: Despite the availability of newer AOMs and their inclusion in medical treatment guidelines, the utilization of AOMs remains low. This may reflect under-prescribing of and/or restricted patient access to approved evidence-based pharmacotherapy for obesity. (C) 2021 AACE. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Automated summary

The study found that despite the availability of newer anti-obesity medications, their utilization remains low in the United States. Users of these medications generally had higher healthcare costs, achieved better weight loss results, while non-users experienced weight gain over the past year. Factors such as depression, dyslipidemia, and infertility predicted the use of anti-obesity medications, while having Medicare coverage and being at risk of sleep apnea were associated with lower odds of usage.