apa on Nostr: Morbid obesity causes significant morbidity and mortality. If an obese patient has ...

Morbid obesity causes significant morbidity and mortality. If an obese patient has had multiple failed attempts to lose weight and is now experiencing health issues (e.g. diabetes) due to their weight, then yes, prescribing a diabetes medication may be appropriate. This is the patient population that most physicians recommend prescribing GLP-1 agonists for weight loss.

The fact that celebrities and med spas have turned taking these medications into a trend doesn’t mean that they are not clinically useful. The misuse of these medications by people is also not a reflection of evidence-based medicine.

The reasons why patients gain and fail to lose weight are complex both on a psychological and biological level. The same way many substance users simply just can’t stop using drugs is the same way many obese individuals simply just can’t stop eating.