In late 2024 I spoke with an academically trained cardiologist expert in cardiometabolic risk prevention and obesity medicine, educator, Dr. Eldad Einav, from Beverly Hills, CA about the ongoing controversy about the shortage and patient access to the exciting new weight loss treatments such as GLP1 agonists. He shared many practical, clinical insights and research that are important to revisit today for patients, physicians, and payers who are seeking to provide the best solutions and learn from some recent shortcomings.

0:00 Highlight #1 - Distinguishing the quality of weight loss solutions

1:26 Highlight #2 - Providing reliable 503B Facility source for patients w/ no access to GLP1

3:18 - Speaker Introduction

6:14 - Why Dr. Einav decided to specialize in obesity / weight loss

9:38 - Why should cardiologists focus on weight management - preventive care?

11:58 - Not many cardiologists manage weight

12:34 - Patient preferences to treat weight vs hypertension or cholesterol

14:34 - Problem of maintaining long-term weight loss

15:00 Look AHEAD study - well-controlled lifestyle study of weight loss with

16:19 Drugs meeting newer targets of 15% or higher weight loss

16:57 - Select Trial: weight loss reduces risk of heart attack, stroke by 20%

19:07 - New drugs approaching efficacy of bariatric surgery

21:29 - 2024 Shortage and patient access to new GLP1 drugs

23:11 - Specialty pharmacy compounding GLP controversy

26:06 - What doctors should know about choosing compounded drug alternatives

27:54 - What patients should know about choosing their weight loss drugs

31:22 - Reality of types of compounded medications used by US hospitals

32:11 - Removing the double-standard of compounded medications to improve patient access

33:46 - Helpful resources to learn how to access the right weight-loss medication

37:47 - Final Advice to Patients and HCPs to make better decisions, consolidate fragmented care