aprott/iStock via Getty Images The added health benefits of new weight loss drugs, such as Novo Nordisk's ( NVO ) Wegovy (semaglutide) and Eli Lilly's ( NYSE: LLY ) Zepbound (tirzepatide), could persuade more men to use them, according to several doctors. Those benefits include addressing sleep apnea and lowering the risk of heart disease. Five doctors who prescribe the GLP-1 medicines told Reuters that men tend to try to lose weight with diet and exercise interventions before turning to drugs, while women are more likely to turn to a doctor for medication.
Data from IQVIA showed that between January and March, females accounted for at least 78% of prescriptions for Wegovy and at least 76% for Zepbound. However, obesity rates among American men and women are about the same. Some people feel that "when you have multiple benefits, there's more value," Audrey Wells, a sleep and obesity medicine physician, told Reuters .
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