Older Americans are quitting GLP-1 weight-loss drugs for 4 key reasons

GLP-1 medications person dominated the weight-loss scenery this twelvemonth — but immoderate older Americans are reportedly kicking the inclination to the curb.

A survey published successful JAMA successful January 2025 — which looked astatine much than 125,000 overweight oregon obese radical — recovered that astir 47% of those with benignant 2 diabetes and 65% of those without diabetes stopped taking their prescribed GLP-1s wrong a twelvemonth of starting them.

Dr. John Batsis, a geriatrician and obesity specializer astatine the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, told The New York Times successful a caller study that radical implicit 65 years aged are "prime targets" for this medication, arsenic obesity prevalence is astir 40% successful older adults.

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These drugs, which mimic a earthy gut hormone called GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1), are chiefly utilized for benignant 2 diabetes and value management. However, they person besides been tested to people a assortment of different conditions, similar slumber apnea and cardiovascular events.

Older Americans person been discontinuing their usage of GLP-1s for value loss, according to studies. (iStock)

Starting and stopping these drugs often leads to value regain, accrued appetite and the nonaccomplishment of different associated wellness benefits, similar redued humor unit and cholesterol, according to Stamford Health and different experts. The hazard for obesity-related conditions, specified arsenic bosom illness and slumber apnea, whitethorn besides increase.

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Despite the risks, immoderate older Americans are reportedly abandoning their weight-loss medications for a assortment of reasons, from aggravated broadside effects to climbing costs.

Below are 4 of the main reasons seniors mightiness not instrumentality to their GLP-1 prescriptions.

No. 1: Cost

The terms of GLP-1 medications is simply a large origin successful keeping up with treatment, particularly arsenic shortages endanger availability.

The New York Times shared the communicative of 75-year-old Mary Bucklew, a nationalist transit retiree surviving successful Delaware, who had been paying conscionable a $25 monthly co-pay done her wellness security program to person Ozempic for value loss.

The terms of GLP-1 medications similar Ozempic is simply a large origin successful keeping up with treatment, according to reports. (REUTERS/Hollie Adams/File Photo)

Bucklew mislaid 25 pounds successful six months and reportedly gained much energy. But her security institution notified her that they would nary longer screen the drug, contempt her arguments that it was indispensable for her health.

Without the coverage, Bucklew’s medicine would outgo much than $1,000 per period retired of pocket, leaving her nary prime but to halt taking it, per the report.

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Some GLP-1 manufacturers person made efforts to marque the products much accessible. In December 2025, Lilly announced that it would little the terms of Zepbound (tirzepatide) single-dose vials.

"Far excessively galore radical who request obesity treatments inactive look outgo and sum barriers," said Ilya Yuffa, enforcement vice president and president for Lilly USA, successful the announcement. "Today’s enactment underscores Lilly’s committedness to improving entree crossed the obesity attraction landscape. We volition support moving to supply much options — expanding choices for transportation devices and creating caller pathways for entree — truthful much radical tin get the medicines they need."

No. 2: Side effects

In an interrogation with Fox News Digital, Dr. Sue Decotiis, a aesculapian value nonaccomplishment doc successful New York City, confirmed that much than fractional of seniors halt taking a GLP-1 medicine owed to outgo oregon broadside effects.

Gastrointestinal broadside effects are the astir communal broadside effect of GLP-1s. (iStock)

Common broadside effects often see nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, bloating, headaches, fatigue and hairsbreadth thinning, according to experts.

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"Older patients whitethorn beryllium much delicate to the GI broadside effects, too," Decotiis said. "Careful monitoring by a doc who is knowledgeable successful the country of aesculapian value nonaccomplishment is imperative."

No. 3: Dehydration

Older patients are often dehydrated from the commencement and bash not devour capable h2o to offset GLP-1 broadside effects, according to Decotiis.

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"A assemblage creation standard tin find h2o musculus wide and bony density, and tin amusement the diligent by illustration what they request to do," she advised.

In Novo Nordisk’s authoritative Wegovy prescribing information, the drugmaker warns that nausea, vomiting and diarrhea tin pb to dehydration, stating that it's "important to portion plentifulness of fluids to forestall dehydration," particularly for radical with underlying kidney issues.

No. 4: Muscle loss

Muscle loss, which is different broadside effect of GLP-1 medications, tin beryllium "detrimental" successful this property group, Decotiis cautioned.

When radical are dehydrated oregon don’t devour capable protein, they whitethorn suffer much musculus and little fat, she said.

Muscle wide nonaccomplishment occurs people with property and tin beryllium worsened by value nonaccomplishment drugs, experts warn. (iStock)

An October 2024 reappraisal from the American Heart Association cited 2 caller studies showing that little than fractional of the value mislaid from GLP-1 medications came from fat, with a important information coming from musculus mass.

The nonaccomplishment of musculus among older individuals tin pb to an accrued hazard of falls and fractures. After property 35, musculus wide whitethorn alteration by up to 2% each year, according to Harvard Health — and that fig increases to 3% aft property 60.

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People tin instrumentality definite steps to antagonistic the hazard of semaglutide-related musculus loss, experts agree. 

"It starts with heightened surveillance from some the diligent and the physician," Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida-based neurosurgeon and longevity expert, antecedently told Fox News Digital. He recommends that physicians behaviour regular assemblage measurements of patients and set the medicine dosage if benchmarks are not being met.

Finding occurrence and sticking to it

Healthcare providers who o.k. the usage of these medications without "carefully following" the patients tin lend to nonaccomplishment of the medications, according to Decotiis.

"Many of the patients who discontinue their GLP-1 drugs could person stayed connected them with the close personalized care."

"Often, utilizing a customized dosing program helps the diligent debar undue broadside effects and helps them pain much fat, which is the mechanics by which GLP drugs enactment semipermanent and systemically," she told Fox News Digital. "For definite patients, a high-quality compounded GLP-1 tin execute tailored dosing."

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"Many of the patients who discontinue their GLP-1 drugs could person stayed connected them with the close personalized care."