Several EDOR researchers have been interviewed about the British government's plan to test if using weight loss drugs can help people with obesity get back into the workforce.
These particular weight loss medications belong to a group of drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists, which affect appetite. While some forms of the drug have been approved for use in New Zealand to treat type 2 diabetes, most are not yet licensed for weight loss and are therefore unfunded.
EDOR advisory board member Professor Boyd Swinburn said the planned UK studies suggest that over time, weight loss drugs could become cheaper and more readily available. He hopes that this will reduce prejudice around the treatment of obesity, as medications for other conditions like high blood pressure and high cholesterol are inexpensive and easily accessible.
Sir Jim Mann, EDOR Co-Director and Professor of Medicine and Nutrition at the University of Otago, said that any medication for treating obesity must be part of an overall strategy to address the obesity epidemic which doesn't stigmatise individuals.
"New Zealand has one of the highest rates of adult obesity in the world. If we are going to do something meaningful about it we need to make changes to the food environment," says Professor Mann.
The food environment includes the price and availability of food and beverages, along with things like food composition, food labelling and how food is marketed.
Professor Mann emphasised that using GLP-1 receptor agonists to manage obesity in Aotearoa New Zealand is still a long way off, as there is currently a global shortage of these types of medications.
Professor Jeremy Krebs, EDOR researcher and endocrinologist at the Capital and Coast District Health Board, was interviewed by iHeart Radio on how GLP-1 receptor agonists help people to lose weight.
He explains how overweight and obesity can increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and joint problems, so medications that can help weight loss could be beneficial to health. But there are a number of barriers.
In addition to the current lack of supply and high cost, Dr Krebs says there is the issue of not knowing the long-term effects of taking these medications, as drug trial data are only available for up to 5 years.
Listen to Professor Krebs' interview on iHeart radio
Everything to know about weight loss drugs with Professor Jeremy Krebs, iHeart radio, 19 October, 2024 (interview starts after 3mins and finishes at 38 mins)
EDOR researchers commenting on weight loss drugs in the media
- Weight loss drugs to become cheaper, more widely available - expert, RNZ, 20 October, 2024
- From A to Ozempic: What you need to know about weight loss drugs and if they work, The Herald, 19 October, 2024
*thumbnail image credit: © World Obesity