Use and continuity of weight‐modifying medications among adults with diabetes and overweight/obesity: US population study

Abstract

ObjectiveTrends in use and continuity of use of diabetes‐specific and non‐diabetes weight‐reducing (WR), weight‐inducing (WI), and weight‐neutral (WN) medications were examined among US adults with diabetes and overweight/obesity.MethodsSerial cross‐sectional data from Medical Expenditure Panel Surveys (2010–2019) for adults (≥18 years) with diabetes and BMI ≥27 kg/m2 (≥25 kg/m2 for Asians) were analyzed.ResultsAmong 7402 US adults with diabetes and overweight/obesity (mean age 60.0 years [SD 13], 50% female), 64.9% of participants used any WI medications, decreasing from 68.9% (95% CI: 64.3%–73.5%) in 2010 to 58.6% (95% CI: 54.7%–62.5%) in 2019. It was estimated that 13.5% used WR medications, increasing 3.31‐fold, from 6.4% (95% CI: 4.1%–8.7%) to 21.2% (95% CI: 18.0%–24.4%) and that 73.1% used WN medications, ranging from 70.5% (95% CI: 66.5–74.6) to 75.0% (95% CI: 71.7%–78.4%). Among adults using diabetes‐specific WI (53.7%), WR (7.1%), and WN (62.4%) medications during the first year, 7.3%, 16.4%, and 9.0% discontinued it in the second year, respectively.ConclusionsOver 2010–2019, 64.9% of adults with diabetes and overweight/obesity were treated with WI medications, 13.5% with WR medications, and 73.1% with WN medications. Discontinuation of WR medications was nearly twice that of WI medications.

Microwave Dielectric Relaxation of Univalent and Bivalent Electrolyte Solutions

“…It is noteworthy that the intercepts of all systems, which correspond to the solution with zero solute concentration, do not align with the expected value for pure water at 25 °C (73.15 ± 0.11 , ). Preliminary experiments performed in our laboratory for low concentrations of CaCl 2 have revealed a clear nonlinear relationship between Δε and concentration, as illustrated in Figure B . This observation constitutes an intriguing area for further exploration, and as such, a dedicated study is currently in preparation phase.…”

“…The rate of change of Δε is faster for bivalent than for univalent electrolytes. (B) Preliminary findings for low concentrations of CaCl 2 (0.125–2 mM) suggest that the nonlinear behavior of the Δε fitting parameter at very low concentrations accounts for the lack of n intercept at 0 M concentration (pure water) in the linear regressions performed between 0.1 and 1 M …”

Encouraging but slow progress toward incorporating obesity care into diabetes care

“…In this issue of Obesity , Galindo and colleagues [1] present an analysis of serial cross‐sectional prescription medication data in US adults with diabetes and overweight/obesity for the 2010 to 2019 timeframe. The results underscore the high prevalence of using medications associated with weight gain relative to those promoting weight reduction.…”

“…The authors report that nearly 65% of adults with diabetes and overweight/obesity received weight gain‐associated medications, compared with a mere 13.5% receiving weight loss‐promoting medications [1]. These data serve as a benchmark of how diabetes was treated at that time with a staggering preference for medications that promote weight gain.…”

“…Galindo et al's research shows a sluggish shift from weight gain‐promoting to weight loss‐promoting diabetes medications between 2010 and 2019 [1]. Furthermore, weight‐reducing medication discontinuation rates were nearly double those for weight‐gain medications and use was lower among lower socioeconomic and race/ethnicity minority groups.…”