New evidence suggesting that weight-loss drugs like Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Eli Lilly’s Zepbound can reduce heart disease risk, treat sleep apnea, and address other health issues might lead more men to use these medications, according to several doctors who regularly prescribe them.
Traditionally, men prefer to manage their weight through diet and exercise, often avoiding medication, according to healthcare professionals and industry analysts. In contrast, women are more likely to seek medical assistance for weight loss.
“The typical weight management program is female predominant in our clinic. Almost two out of three patients are women, and that’s common across the country,” said Dr. Robert Kushner, an obesity medicine researcher at Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine.
Data from IQVIA shows that between January and March, women accounted for at least 78% of total prescriptions for Wegovy and 76% or more for Zepbound. However, obesity rates are nearly identical among men and women, at 43% and 42%, respectively, according to U.S. government data.
“This chronic disease does not discriminate by gender,” stated a Lilly spokesperson, while Novo Nordisk declined to comment on the gender aspect.
In March, U.S. regulators approved Wegovy for lowering heart risks. Zepbound has shown promise in improving sleep apnea symptoms in trials, with analysts expecting approval for this indication by early next year. These drugs, part of a class known as GLP-1 agonists, are also being considered for reducing the risk or progression of kidney disease and treating alcohol abuse, among other conditions.
Dr. Kushner noted that male patients are showing increased interest in these medications, spurred by data highlighting their broader health benefits. “When you have multiple benefits, there’s more value,” added Dr. Audrey Wells, a sleep and obesity medicine physician. “It’s more legitimate as a health treatment, not just a cosmetic treatment.”
Some physicians suggest that men may be more open to weight-loss drugs if recommended by women in their lives. “The woman may initiate the idea of going on a GLP-1 for weight loss, but the man closely follows,” said Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, an obesity medicine specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Despite this, Barclays pharmaceutical analyst Emily Field predicts that women will continue to dominate the market for these drugs, which is estimated to reach $150 billion in the next decade. “Women tend to be the ones who seek treatment for weight,” Field explained.
The gender difference is partly attributed to social and cultural expectations that are more forgiving of men weighing more. Clinical trials for Wegovy and Zepbound primarily enrolled women for weight loss, while trials for sleep apnea and heart disease involved more male participants, reflecting disease prevalence rather than gender bias.
Men are more likely to report having heart disease and are disproportionately affected by obstructive sleep apnea, according to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. Women, however, become equally at risk for these conditions around age 45, during perimenopause.
“Men, especially before middle age, are not as experienced in going to the doctor,” said Dr. Wells, aligning with generalizations about stereotypes around masculinity.
Representatives from the American College of Cardiology and American College of Endocrinology noted gender discrepancies when GLP-1 drugs are used for weight loss, but observed more balanced use for diabetes treatment, for which these drugs were initially approved.
Dr. Jonathan Fialkow of Baptist Health in Miami explained that men often see quicker results from exercise due to greater muscle mass, leading to a perception of more control over their weight. However, as Alex, a 28-year-old from North Carolina who has been taking Wegovy for four months, remarked, “If taking one shot a week can give you 10 years of extra time with your kids, most guys, I think, would take it.”
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