Research
Hormonal
GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are not cost-effective at current prices, requiring significant price reductions to meet standard willingness-to-pay thresholds.
GLP-1 RAs are clinically effective but not cost-effective at current prices. They should be used selectively (e.g., for those who cannot undergo surgery) and only if pricing aligns with their health benefits.
GoodRefutesHIGH confidence
At current pricing, GLP-1 RAs rarely meet accepted cost-effectiveness thresholds.
Why this rating
Based on multiple economic modeling studies showing high ICERs.
Source
Cost-Effectiveness of Obesity Treatments: Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists, Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty, and Metabolic/Bariatric Surgery
Yeon‐Ju Huh · Journal of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery · 2025
DOI 10.17476/jmbs.2025.14.2.97
narrative_reviewCited 4×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- Metabolic/bariatric surgery (MBS) is the most cost-effective intervention for class II and III obesity, often demonstrating dominance (cost-saving) over non-surgical management.Good
- Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG) is a highly cost-effective, less invasive alternative to surgery for Class I obesity, with an ICER well below willingness-to-pay thresholds.Good
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