Q&A: What employers need to know about anti-obesity medications

Weight loss medications, like GLP-1s, have surged in popularity. However, these FDA-approved receptor agonist drugs come with a hefty price tag: upwards of $1,000 per month for each employee on this medication. And since one typically uses this treatment long-term, these can be long-term costs, too.

Many benefits leaders remain cautious about how to approach these new therapies. These drugs can benefit many employees but they may also significantly impact a company’s bottom line if formulary coverage exists.

But high-quality weight care doesn’t have to rely on GLP-1s. Lower-cost non-GLP-1 drugs are also clinically proven for weight loss, and step therapy programs can help organizations mitigate medication costs.

Here, Rekha Kumar, MD, MS, chief medical officer at Found, answers employers’ top questions about anti-obesity medications.

What should employers know about how providers prescribe GLP-1 medications?

Fewer than 1% of primary care physicians in the U.S. are board-certified in obesity medicine, and people may get GLP-1 prescriptions from providers without training in obesity care. Since approximately one-third of people don’t respond to GLP-1s, working with a specialist who is well-versed in the full spectrum of available treatments (including non-GLP-1 therapies) is essential. With Found, employers can rest assured that their workforce will receive high-quality, customized care from board-certified providers trained in obesity medicine.

Other weight loss programs suggest de-prescribing GLP-1s as a way for employers to limit long-term costs. Is this a sound approach?

De-prescribing or tapering off a GLP-1 is a process that should only be done under the guidance of a  clinical provider. Without this, a patient may experience harmful effects, including surges in blood sugar levels or weight regain of up to two-thirds of lost weight, which can increase the risk of developing other obesity-related chronic conditions.

Instead of requiring employees to halt medications when the weight is lost, employers should focus on comprehensive and continuing care. Found combines the most appropriate and clinically effective medication with lifestyle guidance helping employees achieve sustainable health outcomes.

Does Found prescribe other drugs that support clinically significant weight loss?

While GLP-1s promote weight loss, they are not the only solution to sustainable weight care. In fact, Non-GLP-1 medications are also clinically proven to work for weight loss. Beyond GLP-1s, Found’s providers can prescribe from a broad medication toolkit with 10+ medications in 70+ combinations to truly personalize treatment for every member. Using MetabolicPrint™, a proprietary metabolic health assessment, clinicians analyze every member’s medical history, biomarkers, and more to develop a personalized approach to weight care

In fact, 91% of Found members who lost 15% or more of their body weight at 12 months did so without GLP-1 medications. On average, members lose 12% of body weight by 12 months.

How can Found help employers manage the risk of high medication costs?

Found clinicians follow a step therapy approach, which means that for obesity and overweight, GLP-1s are not the first line of treatment. Instead, providers use a member’s MetabolicPrint assessment to get a more precise picture of their unique health profile and then prescribe the right medication based on unique biological factors.

Found offers employers an advanced benefit program designed with a flexible approach. This flexibility means that if your benefits plan doesn’t currently provide GLP-1 coverage, you don’t have to suddenly change your formulary which delivers high-quality, cost-effective care to employees with other medications.

What’s your top advice for employers evaluating weight loss programs to offer their employees?

Invest in a program based on a strong clinical expertise in the various anti-obesity medications available. Even though there’s a lot of buzz around GLP-1s, these drugs are not the most clinically effective option for everyone.

About Found

Found is among the largest medically supported telehealth weight care clinics in the country, having served more than 250,000 members to date. Our mission is to help employers build happier, healthier teams by effectively improving employee health through comprehensive, personalized weight care.

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