What has happened in the meantime is a proliferation of compounded GLP-1 drugs, unapproved by the FDA, hitting the market to make money in the short term.  This has attracted many patients to unsafe alternatives, which are not FDA-approved and carry twice the risk of hospitalization. These patients deserve the same access to proven, FDA-approved treatments as those with diabetes or heart disease—but coverage gaps remain as only a third of employers cover GLP-1s for obesity, and most Medicare and Medicaid programs do not cover them either.

Unapproved GLP-1 drugs can cause severe side effects due to potential issues like incorrect dosing, wrong ingredients, or harmful contaminants, which can lead to serious health problems. Known side effects of the active ingredient, like those from FDA-approved products, include gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, as well as potential risks of pancreatitis and hair loss, but these risks are amplified with unapproved products. 

Our guest today is Angela Fitch, MD, Founder and Chief Medical Officer at knownwell, a comprehensive empathetic health practice that fits all bodies.She is the former Co-Director of the Massachusetts General Hospital Weight Center and faculty at Harvard Medical School.

Learn more at:

https://bit.ly/obesity-action-org

https://bit.ly/knownwell-co

https://bit.ly/avoid-knockoff-glp1-drugs

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