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The Morning Rush

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Biggest Mistake On Weight Loss Drug

The trendy way to shed pounds these days is by taking weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. But while a lot of people are trying these GLP-1 drugs out - 1.7% of Americans were prescribed one of these medications last year - they’re making a major mistake after dropping some weight.

New research from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association finds that many weight-loss drug users stop taking them too soon. A lot of them aren’t staying on their prescribed treatment for a minimum of 12 weeks as they should and according to the report, more than 30% of patients quit after just four weeks. People between 18 and 34 are more likely to drop out of treatment sooner, as are those in underserved health areas.

If you end before 12 weeks there is a big risk that your full appetite may return within a week, increasing your calorie intake and leading to weight regain. In addition if you were taking it for type 2 diabetes, your blood sugar levels may spike, worsening the effects of type 2 diabetes on your blood vessels, which can lead to eye, heart and nerve disease.

So why are they quitting early? Because they’re seeing results but for most it's the expense. The medications work and people start losing weight, then decide they don’t need the drugs anymore, but studies show those who quit tend to regain two-thirds of the weight they lost on the meds within a few months. Cost can also be an issue, as the new research finds those who pay less than $60 a month for it are significantly more likely to stay on the drug, but the average monthly price is still over $1,000.

Obviously if people feel like they can save $2000 by getting off after a month or even save $1000 by getting off after 2 months that's why they're doing it. The study authors stress that it’s “critical” for people to take the drugs “long enough to achieve clinical success.”

Nutritionist showing nutrition plan

Photo: bymuratdeniz / E+ / Getty Images


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