Obesity: Most Read Stories From 2024

Excess Abdominal Fat May Contribute to Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain

Searching for an association between chronic pain and obesity, researchers found that abdominal adipose tissue was associated with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Furthermore, they discovered that excessive and ectopic fat depositions could be key indicators leading to musculoskeletal pain. Finally, women showed more significant musculoskeletal pain compared with men.

Top read obesity stories from the year 2024 | image credit: Ayeen / stock.adobe.com

Q&A: Discussing the Dangers of Buying GLP-1s From Online Pharmacies

Back in August, Drug Topics met with Timothy Mackey, MAS, PhD, professor of global health at the University of California, San Diego, and member of the Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies’ Academic Advisory Panel. In an exclusive interview, Mackey discussed the increasingly popular glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist medications and the common trends he’s seen when patients bought them from online pharmacies.

Prevalence of Obesity in the US Remains at All-Time High

Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wisconsin: In all 23 of these states, over 35% of the population is considered obese. Putting CDC data into perspective, these statistics provide a harsh look at obesity’s immense prevalence in the US.

Liraglutide with Lifestyle Interventions Decreased BMI for Children 6 to 11

As GLP-1s have broken out into the mainstream rather recently, so too are FDA approvals coming down the pipeline for some of the most sought after variations of these medications. One indication that has been debated upon is using GLP-1s for children, whether it be to treat obesity, diabetes, or other complications. In a New England Journal of Medicine study, an intervention combining liraglutide with a lifestyle intervention was more effective for children 6 to 11 who had obesity compared with the study placebo.

IQVIA: GLP-1 Therapies, Health Care Cyber Attacks Among Top Industry Impacts in 2024

At the 2024 National Association of Chain Drug Stores Total Store Expo, Drug Topics sat down with Scott Long, director of supplier services at IQVIA, and Doug Long, vice president of industry relations. In yet another discussion surrounding GLP-1s, industry trends, and more, the duo gave their data-driven insights to where the pharmacy industry stands and where it might be going in the future.

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