Materials and Methods This study adhered to CONSORT guidelines and was approved by the Institutional Review Board at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA
Not everyone, however, has a great response to GLP-1 drugs and they can cause unpleasant side effects, like nausea, constipation and diarrhoea
A separate retrospective study published in 2025 in JAMA Ophthalmology compared patients who took either oral or subcutaneous semaglutide for type 2 diabetes and matched them to control based on race, sex, A1c and comorbid conditions such as DR, sleep apnea, hypertension and hyperlipidemia
Common Prior Authorization Criteria BMI documentation: Most states require a documented BMI of 30 or greater, or 27 or greater with at least one weight-related comorbidity (hypertension, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, obstructive sleep apnea) Failed lifestyle modification: Typically 3 to 6 months of documented dietary counseling and physical activity recommendations that did not produce adequate weight loss Step therapy: Some states require patients to try and fail less expensive medications (phentermine, orlistat) before approving GLP-1 coverage Provider qualification: Some Medicaid plans require the prescriber to have completed training in obesity medicine
Set up your support system By now you know that your diet, physical activity, health situation, and general sense of wellbeing can all contribute to or derail your weight loss efforts
Jardine, R