As many as 1 in 5 people wont lose weight with GLP-1 drugs, experts say
As many as 1 in 5 people wont lose weight with GLP-1 drugs, experts say1 of 2|Most people taking popular drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy to lose weight have shed significant pounds. But obesity experts say that roughly 20% of patients as many as 1 in 5 may not see robust results with the new medications.2 of 2|FILE - Donna Cooper holds up a dosage of Wegovy, a drug used for weight loss, at her home, March 1, 2024, in Front Royal, Va. (AP Photo/Amanda Andrade-Rhoades, File)As many as 1 in 5 people wont lose weight with GLP-1 drugs, experts say1 of 2Most people taking popular drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy to lose weight have shed significant pounds. But obesity experts say that roughly 20% of patients as many as 1 in 5 may not see robust results with the new medications. Share CopyLink copied Email FacebookXRedditLinkedInPinterestFlipboard Print 2 of 2|FILE - Donna Cooper holds up a dosage of Wegovy, a drug used for weight loss, at her home, March 1, 2024, in Front Royal, Va. (AP Photo/Amanda Andrade-Rhoades, File)2 of 2FILE - Donna Cooper holds up a dosage of Wegovy, a drug used for weight loss, at her home, March 1, 2024, in Front Royal, Va. (AP Photo/Amanda Andrade-Rhoades, File) Share CopyLink copied Email FacebookXRedditLinkedInPinterestFlipboard Print By JONEL ALECCIAUpdated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year] Share CopyLink copied Email FacebookXRedditLinkedInPinterestFlipboard Print Unlike scores of people who scrambled for the blockbuster drugs Ozempic and Wegovy to lose weight in recent years, Danielle Griffin had no trouble getting them.The 38-year-old information technology worker from New Mexico had a prescription. Her pharmacy had the drugs in stock. And her health insurance covered all but $25 to $50 of the monthly cost.For Griffin, the hardest part of using the new drugs wasnt access. It was finding out that the much-hyped medications didnt really work for her. I have been on Wegovy for a year and a half and have only lost 13 pounds, said Griffin, who watches her diet, drinks plenty of water and exercises regularly. Ive done everything right with no success. Its discouraging.In clinical trials, most participants taking Wegovy or Mounjaro to treat obesity lost an average of 15% to 22% of their body weight up to 50 pounds or more in many cases. But roughly 10% to 15% of patients in those trials were nonresponders who lost less than 5% of their body weight.Now that millions of people have used the drugs, several obesity experts told The Associated Press that perhaps 20% of patients as many as 1 in 5 may not respond well to the medications. Its a little-known consequence of the obesity drug boom, according to doctors who caution eager patients not to expect one-size-fits-all results. RELATED COVERAGE Its all about explaining that different people have different responses, said Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, an obesity expert at Massachusetts General HospitalThe drugs are known as GLP-1 receptor agonists because they mimic a hormone in the body known as glucagon-like peptide 1. Genetics, hormones and variability in how the brain regulates energy can all influence weight and a persons response to the drugs, Stanford said. Medical conditions such as sleep apnea can prevent weight loss, as can certain common medications, such as antidepressants, steroids and contraceptives.This is a disease that stems from the brain, said Stanford. The dysfunction may not be the same from patient to patient.Despite such cautions, patients are often upset when they start getting the weekly injections but the numbers on the scale barely budge.It can be devastating, said Dr. Katherine Saunders, an obesity expert at Weill Cornell Medicine and co-founder of the obesity treatment company FlyteHealth. With such high expectations, theres so much room for disappointment.That was the case for Griffin, who has battled obesity since childhood and hoped to shed 70 pounds using Wegovy. The drug helped reduce her appetite and lowered her risk of diabetes, but she saw little change in weight. Its an emotional roller coaster, she said. You want it to work like it does for everybody else. The medications are typically prescribed along with eating behavior and lifestyle changes.Its usually clear within weeks whether someone will respond to the drugs, said Dr. Jody Dushay, an endocrine specialist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Weight loss typically begins right away and continues as the dosage increases. For some patients, that just doesnt happen. For others, side effects such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea force them to halt the medications, Dushay said. In such situations, patients who were counting on the new drugs to pare pounds may think theyre out of options.I tell them: Its not game over, Dushay said. Trying a different version of the new class of drugs may help. Griffin, who didnt respond well to Wegovy, has started using Zepbound, which targets an additional hormone pathway in the body. After three months of using the drug, she has lost 7 pounds. Im hoping its slow and steady, she said. Other people respond well to older drugs, the experts said. Changing diet, exercise, sleep and stress habits can also have profound effects. Figuring out what works typically requires a doctor trained to treat obesity, Saunders noted. Obesity is such a complex disease that really needs to be treated very comprehensively, she said. If what were prescribing doesnt work, we always have a backup plan.___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.JONEL ALECCIA JoNel is a national reporter covering food and nutrition.
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