Digital Footprints of Obesity Treatment: GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and the Health Equity Divide.
Zahra AziziFatima RodriguezThemistocles L AssimesPublished in: Circulation (2024)
Our research investigates the societal implications of access to glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists, particularly in light of recent clinical trials demonstrating the efficacy of semaglutide in reducing cardiovascular mortality. A decade-long analysis of Google Trends indicates a significant increase in searches for GLP-1 agonists, primarily in North America. This trend contrasts with the global prevalence of obesity. Given the high cost of GLP-1 agonists, a critical question arises: Will this disparity in medication accessibility exacerbate the global health equity gap in obesity treatment? This viewpoint explores strategies to address the health equity gap exacerbated by this emerging medication. Because GLP-1 agonists hold the potential to become a cornerstone in obesity treatment, ensuring equitable access is a pressing public health concern.
Keyphrases
- public health
- global health
- insulin resistance
- metabolic syndrome
- weight loss
- healthcare
- type diabetes
- clinical trial
- high fat diet induced
- emergency department
- adipose tissue
- risk factors
- risk assessment
- combination therapy
- health information
- human health
- physical activity
- coronary artery disease
- replacement therapy
- smoking cessation
- electronic health record
- double blind