GLP-1s have taken the world by storm by providing an effective solution for obesity in many people. If you’ve been struggling to lose stubborn weight and are worried about the potential health risks of being overweight, you may be considering starting treatment with a GLP-1 yourself. Before you come to a decision, though, it’s important to know what GLP-1s are, how they work, and their pros and cons, including whether your insurance will cover your treatment.
What Are GLP-1s?
GLP-1 is the abbreviation for glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist. The main purpose of these medications is to treat diabetes, but some GLP-1s are also approved for weight loss. The drugs mimic the natural GLP-1 hormone produced by your body, which suppresses appetite, causes your pancreas to release insulin to lower blood sugar, slows stomach emptying, and blocks glucagon to prevent more glucose from entering the bloodstream.
Most GLP-1s are injectables, typically taken once a week. Patients receive pens with the exact dose and inject themselves — your doctor will explain how to administer your first injection. There is also one oral GLP-1, although more are likely to become approved soon.
Are You Eligible for GLP-1s?
Before you can decide if you want to start treatment with a GLP-1, you need to determine if you’d be eligible.
If you don’t have type 2 diabetes, you need to be either obese or overweight with a weight-related condition, such as high cholesterol or nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Whether you’re classified as overweight or obese will depend on your body mass index (BMI), which, unfortunately, is not always a good gauge of overall health. This is because BMI is unable to differentiate between muscle and fat — and it’s better to be strong than skinny.
MedicineNet says that better measurements of whether you’re a healthy weight than BMI are:
- Waist circumference
- Waist-to-hip ratio
- Skinfold thickness
In addition, some people are ineligible for GLP-1s due to safety concerns based on their medical history. This may be the case if you:
- Have a severe gastrointestinal condition, like inflammatory bowel disease
- Are at an increased risk of certain thyroid cancers
- Have a history of pancreatitis, kidney failure, or gallbladder disease
GLP-1s Do More Than Help with Weight Loss
As well as helping with weight loss (and lowering blood sugar, which is important for type 2 diabetes), GLP-1s have been found to have several other health benefits, including:
- Reducing the risk of kidney and heart disease
- Lowering blood pressure
- Slowing the progression of diabetic kidney disease
- Helping with fatty liver disease
- Improving the outcomes of lipid disorders
Are GLP-1s Safe?
All the GLP-1s on the market have been approved by the FDA, which means they have gone through rigorous safety checks. Like with all medications, there have been some cases of severe side effects, but these have been rare enough that the FDA has determined that the benefits outweigh the risks.
Anti-Obesity Drugs Aren’t a Magic Solution
It’s true that many people have seen success with GLP-1s, but this is not the case for everyone. Some people experience unpleasant side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, indigestion, or a rapid heart rate. If side effects interfere with your daily life, you may need a lower dosage, to switch to a different GLP-1, or to stop taking GLP-1s entirely. It’s also important to note that you are more likely to see positive results if you combine medication with changes to your diet, exercise regime, and other behaviors.
Does Medicare Cover GLP-1s?
The situation around Medicare and GLP-1s is complicated — and evolving. The Biden administration submitted a proposal for Medicare to cover anti-obesity medications, but the Trump administration rejected it back in April. In August, however, the Washington Post reported that the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation would be beginning a five-year experiment where Medicare prescription drug plans would cover the drugs. This could mean that GLP-1s become available with Medicare in January 2027.
Bear in mind that this only applies to prescriptions for GLP-1s for weight loss — Medicare already covers the drugs for treatment of diabetes and heart disease. In other words, you may already be eligible for GLP-1 Medicare coverage.
Requesting a Prescription for an Anti-Obesity Medication
If you’re interested in taking a GLP-1, the first step is to talk to your doctor. Discuss why you feel it would be beneficial to you, the challenges you are currently facing with weight loss, and your goals for the future. Your doctor can advise you on the suitability of such treatment for you, based on your health, medical history, and other factors.
Want more health and lifestyle tips? Subscribe to news alerts from Silver&Smart.
