Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Wegovy Injection Shown To Help Tackle Adolescents' Obesity
A blockbuster weight-loss medicine led to dramatic effects for adolescents diagnosed with obesity, a result that will likely widen the use of an in-demand drug — and fan a debate over whether someone’s body weight should be treated as a disease. (Garde, 11/2)
Results of a clinical trial released in the New England Journal of Medicine on Wednesday found that adolescents who got a weekly injection of a drug that reduces appetite lost an average of 14.7% of their starting bodyweight, while those who got a placebo and counseling on diet and exercise gained 2.7% of their initial weight. The trial included 201 young people ages 12 to 17 at three medical centers around the country and in Europe and Mexico. (Carroll, 11/2)
The first highly effective weight-loss drug has been in short supply since it was approved last year. But Novo Nordisk told investors Wednesday that its drug Wegovy—whose users average a loss of 16% of their weight—will be broadly available toward the end of the year. (Alpert, 11/3)
Also —
Health and dieting trends on TikTok glorify weight loss and may contribute to disordered eating behaviors and body dissatisfaction, particularly in adolescent and young users, according to a University of Vermont study published Tuesday in the journal PLOS One. (11/2)
