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Today, some employers might be able to avoid offering obese employees coverage for GLP-1 agonists like Wegovy and GLP-1/GIP agonists like Zepbound.
But Dr. Tim Church, a public health specialist who now serves as chief medical officer at Wondr Health, predicted recently that GLP-1 agonists, GLP-1 /GIP agonists and similar prescription drugs will soon be as much a part of the medication infrastructure as statins or thyroid pills.
Before Church began working for Wondr — a metabolic health services firm — he was a preventive health researcher at the Cooper Institute in Dallas.
He has written many research papers about preventive health.
He said via email that he believes studies already show that GLP-1 agonists and similar drugs can do far more than help people with type 2 diabetes control their blood sugar and people with weight problems control their weight.
"Research shows these medications drastically reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, liver disease, kidney disease, sleep apnea, musculoskeletal issues, Alzheimer's and more," Church said.
Some of the latest studies have shown that GLP-1 agonists and GLP-1/GIP agonists cut anxiety-related office visits, suggesting that the medications may help people improve their mental health, Church added.
Related: Cigna researchers see GLP-1s cutting anxiety-related office visits
For now, Church said, the drugs may be too expensive for all of the patients who need them to take them.
Eventually, he said, those drugs and similar drugs will cost less, and many more patients will use them.
Although cost is one barrier for expanding use of the drugs, another is a lack of well-tested clinical guidelines, Church said.
"Real support is needed to ensure individuals receive the right medication and dose based on their individual conditions and needs," he said.
The GLP-1 agonists and GLP-1/GIP agonists appear to work partly by delaying how quickly a patient's stomach empties.
But the drugs also reduce the effect of hunger hormones like ghrelin, and they also appear to have anti-inflammatory capabilities, Church said.
"Helping to lower systemic inflammation can have significant clinical implications," he said.
In theory, he said, the drugs could even help reduce inflammation for patients with osteoarthritis, not simply help patients with sore joints by helping them control their weight.
For all conditions, he said, "to support long-term success, it's essential to pair GLP-1s with a proven behavior-change program that focuses on sustainable healthy habits, including balanced nutrition and physical activity."
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