As obesity rates continue to rise in the United States, some insurers are opting out of coverage for anti-obesity medications, forcing some patients to abruptly stop treatment. In a recent study in Treah Haggerty, MD, MS, of West Virginia University in Morgantown, and colleagues conducted a qualitative study in 22 patients who were already on or about to start treatment with a glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonist as part of medical weight management.

The examines the experiences of 22 female patients in West Virginia whose insurance provider discontinued coverage for anti-obesity medications. Through semi-structured interviews, the study reveals that this policy change caused profound emotional distress, including feelings of hopelessness, anger, and unjust stigmatization.