obesity

After developing Type 2 diabetes and having a heart attack in his 40s, Clearwater resident Fabricio Zambrano switched to a plant-based lifestyle.

A report shows that obesity and overweight residents cost Florida $30.1 billion in 2022. Randall Croom, a Stetson management associate professor, says that’s taking a toll on our workforce and more.

Cheaper versions of Wegovy and Zepbound touted on social media could be fleeting. Copies are legal now because the brand-name drugs are in short supply. But the drugmakers are boosting production.

University of Sydney researchers found that obese individuals can benefit more from exercise between 6 p.m. and midnight. One theory is that the body is better primed later in the day to manage blood sugar.

New research shows that the number of 12- to 25-year-olds who used the GLP-1 medications climbed from about 8,700 a month in 2020 to 60,000 a month in 2023.

The makers of Ozempic and Mounjaro charge charge around $1,000 a month for the drugs, and insurers are reluctant to pick up the tab. Often, low-income patients have to resort to less effective treatments.

Health officials say a preliminary review finds no connection between suicidal thoughts and a new class of diabetes and obesity drugs, but they cannot definitively rule out “a small risk may exist."

Experts say severe obesity at a very early age is nearly irreversible, and is strongly associated with chronic health problems and an early death.

Wegovy is a high-dose version of the diabetes treatment Ozempic. The international trial showed the weekly injections prevented heart attacks, strokes and heart-related deaths.

Many widely prescribed drugs and over-the-counter medications work differently in people who are obese, but exactly how and at what dose often isn't clear.