Adherence
Male sex, older age (≥65 years), lower socioeconomic status (lower income, less education, higher area deprivation), and lack of insurance are associated with significantly lower odds of receiving anti-obesity medication (AOM) prescriptions and metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS).
If you are male, older, or have limited income/insurance, you face significant systemic barriers to accessing obesity treatments like GLP-1s or surgery. This is not a reflection of your medical need but of socio-economic disparities. Seek providers who are aware of these disparities and advocate for coverage options or financial assistance programs.
Being a man (vs. woman, adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.62...), Medicare insurance holder (vs. private, aOR = 0.78...), retiree (vs. employed, aOR = 0.70...) and high school degree holders (vs. college, aOR = 0.85...) were associated with lower odds of receiving AOM. Being single (vs. married, aOR = 0.84...), retired (vs. employed, aOR = 0.63...), with body mass index (BMI) 35- < 40 (vs. ≥45, aOR = 0.13...) were associated with lower odds of MBS.
Why this rating
Large cross-sectional study (n>180k) with multivariable regression controlling for clinical factors.
Source
Socio‐demographic and clinical factors associated with the receipt of anti‐obesity medication prescriptions and metabolic and bariatric surgery among eligible all of Us participants
Olajide A. Adekunle et al. · Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism · 2025
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