Primary Care Physicians Unprepared to Manage Weight Loss After GLP-1 Drug Coverage Loss

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)-based drugs have become a cornerstone for effective weight management, with primary care physicians (PCPs) frequently prescribing them. However, many PCPs possess limited familiarity with alternative weight management treatments. This knowledge gap becomes particularly problematic when patients lose insurance coverage for GLP-1-based drugs after achieving initial weight loss, creating a critical need for alternative strategies to sustain their progress. This study investigates how prepared PCPs feel to navigate this increasingly common clinical scenario, addressing a significant gap in understanding primary care readiness for long-term obesity management without continuous GLP-1 access.

Researchers conducted a cross-sectional web-based survey of 111 primary care physicians (PCPs) at an academic medical center in the Midwestern US. The survey focused on PCPs caring for patients who lost insurance coverage for GLP-1-based weight management drugs from a major insurer in 2025. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively and with chi-square tests; open-ended responses used directed content analysis. The primary endpoint was PCPs' self-reported comfort in managing patients' weight loss after GLP-1 coverage cessation.