Obesity Epidemic Peaked? FDA Reviews Menopause Drug; Metabolic Surgery and Cancer

The obesity epidemic may be plateauing in the U.S.; this could be why. (Washington Post)

A cohort study of older adults with an initial fragility fracture showed that less than a third filled a prescription for anti-osteoporosis medication in the year after hospital discharge. (JAMA Network Open)

Bayer said the FDA is reviewing its investigational drug elinzanetant for moderate-to-severe vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause based on data from the OASIS studies.

Meanwhile, the agency rejected dasiglucagon for congenital hyperinsulinism, Zealand Pharma announced.

In a court filing, the FDA said it will reconsider its decision to bar compounded versions of tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) as it reviews whether a shortage remains. (Reuters)

Many thyroid cancers — predominantly small papillary cancers — that were missed during the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic still hadn’t been diagnosed by the end of 2021, a longitudinal study found. (JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery)

Not many employers offer health plans that cover GLP-1 agents like semaglutide (Wegovy) and tirzepatide for weight loss. (Health Affairs)

But can these weight-loss drugs help people get back to work? The U.K. plans to find out. (Reuters)

Meanwhile, the proliferating black market for these popular drugs — whether illegally diverted or counterfeit — is reportedly under federal investigation. (CNBC)

Aging and persistent vitamin D deficiency increased the odds of low bone mineral density in people with the rare, inherited metabolic disease erythropoietic protoporphyria, a cohort study suggested. (Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism)

A meta-analysis of over 3.7 million adults with obesity found that pancreatic cancer risk was lower for those who underwent metabolic surgery compared with non-surgical controls. (Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews)

GLP-1 prescribing rates increased 11.9% in September relative to June, according to a Truveta analysis of real-world electronic health record data.