The substantial increase in obesity prevalence in the United States – from 30.5% to 41.9% in just the 2 decades from 2000 to 2020 – has likely contributed to increases in various obesity-related complications, including cardiovascular disease, stroke, Type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, and certain types of cancer.
According to new guidelines published by the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), adults with obesity who do not respond adequately to lifestyle interventions alone should therefore be offered one of four suggested medications to treat obesity: semaglutide, liraglutide, phentermine-topiramate extended-release (ER), and naltrexone-buproprion ER.
A multidisciplinary panel of 10 experts and one patient representative developed the guidelines by prioritising key clinical questions, identifying patient-centered outcomes, and conducting an evidence review of each medication.
“These guidelines are not intended to impose a standard of care, but rather, they provide the basis for rational, informed decisions for patients and health care professionals,” the authors wrote.
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