Trending Now - GLP-1 Weight-loss Drugs Show Benefits Despite Medicaid Cuts

WHO:

CNN - Dr. Daniel Drucker, a pioneer of GLP-1 research at the University of Toronto.

CNN - Dr. Jody Dushay, who prescribes GLP-1 medicines at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.

The Guardian - Dr. Matthew Klebanoff, a professor of internal medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine.

The Guardian - Arvind Venkat, a Pennsylvania state representative and physician.

The Guardian - Rich Canciello, father of a Medicaid recipient who used GLP-1 drugs.

WHAT:

Fox News - A study analyzing Reddit posts found that GLP-1 users reported side effects like fatigue, chills, and menstrual irregularities not seen in clinical trials.

ScienceAlert - Certain genetic variants, carried by around 10% of the population, could be making type 2 diabetes GLP-1 treatments less effective, according to new research published in Genome Medicine.

Nature - A study published in 2026 found that weight loss with GLP-1 medicines does not result in a disproportionate loss of muscle mass or function in obese mice and humans.

CNN - A study published on April 11th, 2026, indicates that GLP-1 medicines can improve liver health independent of weight loss, with substantial benefits observed even in participants who did not lose weight.

CNN - Wegovy, made by Novo Nordisk, was shown in a clinical trial to help dramatically improve markers of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH).

CNN - Wegovy was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in August 2026 for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), a serious liver disease affecting about 6% of US adults.

The Guardian - Medicaid spending on GLP-1 drugs in Pennsylvania was $1.3 billion in 2025, which was double the amount spent in 2024.

The Guardian - In 2023, the US spent $71.7 billion on GLP-1 drugs, a 500% increase from $13.7 billion in 2018.

The Guardian - The obesity rate in the United States fell to 37% in 2025, according to a Gallup report.

CNN - Dr. Daniel Drucker stated that the improvement in liver health from GLP-1s is not solely driven by weight loss, suggesting that health insurers should reconsider how they assess the success of these medications.

The Guardian - Medicaid spending on GLP-1 drugs in Pennsylvania was $1.3 billion in 2025, which was double the amount spent in 2024.

The Guardian - Sixteen state Medicaid programs covered GLP-1 drugs for obesity in October 2025, but as of January 2026, several states, including California, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina, ended coverage for weight loss.

The Guardian - Pennsylvania's Medicaid program now only covers GLP-1 drugs for people with diabetes or those who meet a narrower set of criteria, such as those with sleep apnea or a body mass index of at least 35.

CNN - A study published on April 11th, 2026, indicates that GLP-1 medicines can reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes, and improve outcomes in heart failure, even when participants do not lose weight.

CNN - Wegovy, made by Novo Nordisk, was shown in a clinical trial to help dramatically improve markers of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH).

CNN - Dr. Jody Dushay estimates that about 5 to 8% of patients in her practice are “weight non-responders” to GLP-1s.

The Guardian - As of January 2026, California, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina ended Medicaid GLP-1 drug coverage for weight loss.

The Guardian - Michigan started restricting GLP-1 drug coverage to individuals classified as morbidly obese, meaning those with a body mass index above 40.

The Guardian - The Pennsylvania Medicaid program now only covers GLP-1 drugs for people with diabetes or those who meet a narrower set of criteria, such as those with sleep apnea or a body mass index of at least 35.

CNN - A study published on April 11th, 2026, suggests that genetics may play a role in why 10 to 15% of people are “non-responders” to GLP-1s for weight loss.

CNN - Wegovy was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in August 2026 for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), a serious liver disease affecting about 6% of US adults.

The Guardian - The obesity rate in the United States fell to 37% in 2025, according to a Gallup report.

The Guardian - Medicaid spending on GLP-1 drugs in Pennsylvania was $1.3 billion in 2025, which was double the amount spent in 2024.

CNN - GLP-1 medicines, such as Wegovy and Zepbound, can help reduce cravings and improve exercise enjoyment.

CNN - About 10 to 15% of people are “non-responders” to GLP-1s for weight loss.

CNN - Wegovy was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in August 2021 for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH).

The Guardian - The obesity rate in the United States among adults was 40% in August 2023.

The Guardian - In November 2025, 12% of adults reported taking a GLP-1 drug, a 6% increase from 18 months earlier.

The Guardian - Medicaid spending on GLP-1 drugs in Pennsylvania was $1.3 billion in 2025.

The Guardian - The cost of GLP-1 drugs in the US rose from $13.7 billion in 2018 to $71.7 billion in 2023, a 500% increase.

The Guardian - Alexa Canciello lost almost 30 pounds while taking Zepbound before her state stopped coverage in January 2026.

WHERE:

CNN - The University of Toronto, Canada.

The Guardian - Pennsylvania, United States.

The Guardian - New York City, United States.

The Guardian - Boston, Massachusetts, United States.

WHEN:

CNN - Wegovy was approved in August 2021.

The Guardian - The obesity rate was reported in August 2023.

The Guardian - In November 2025, 12% of adults reported taking a GLP-1 drug.

The Guardian - Medicaid coverage for GLP-1 drugs was cut in January 2026.

WHY:

The Guardian - Pennsylvania's Medicaid program cut coverage due to an “unsustainable rise in costs from GLP-1s,” according to a spokesperson for the department.

The Guardian - The Pennsylvania state department of human services secretary, Val Arkoosh, stated that the state was considering cuts to ensure medications are used appropriately while considering cost-effectiveness.

The Guardian - Dr. Matthew Klebanoff emphasized that it is challenging for payers to afford covering GLP-1 medications for everyone who could benefit, highlighting the financial strain on Medicaid programs.

The Guardian - Pennsylvania's Medicaid program cut coverage due to an “unsustainable rise in costs from GLP-1s,” according to a spokesperson for the department.

The Guardian - Dr. Matthew Klebanoff stated that it is challenging for payers to afford covering GLP-1 medications for everyone who could benefit.

The Guardian - Pennsylvania is considering limiting access to GLP-1 drugs based on body mass index or other health factors to ensure the medications are used appropriately.

The Guardian - States are restricting Medicaid coverage of GLP-1 drugs due to high demand and rising public spending.

The Guardian - Dr. Klebanoff stated that it is challenging for payers to afford covering GLP-1 medications for everyone who could benefit.

The Guardian - Pennsylvania's Medicaid program cut coverage due to an “unsustainable rise in costs from GLP-1s.”

HOW:

CNN - Drucker’s study involved creating “weight non-responders” in lab mice to study the effects of GLP-1 on liver health.

Fox News - A new study analyzing Reddit posts found that GLP-1 users reported side effects like fatigue, chills, and menstrual irregularities not seen in clinical trials.

CNN - Clinical trials suggest GLP-1 medicines can improve heart health and liver health independent of weight loss.

CNN - Dr. Drucker’s study involved creating “weight non-responders” in lab mice to study the effects of GLP-1 on liver health.

The Guardian - Pennsylvania is considering limiting access to GLP-1 drugs based on body mass index or other health factors.

(UPDATED April 15, 2026 17:21 UTC)

A new study analyzing Reddit posts found that users of GLP-1 medications reported side effects like fatigue, chills, and menstrual irregularities that were not observed in clinical trials. Additionally, research published in Genome Medicine indicates that certain genetic variants, affecting about 10% of the population, may reduce the effectiveness of GLP-1 treatments for type 2 diabetes. Meanwhile, a study published in Nature reveals that weight loss achieved through GLP-1 medicines does not lead to a disproportionate loss of muscle mass or function in obese mice and humans.

(UPDATED April 15, 2026 13:21 UTC)

A recent study published on Saturday, shows that GLP-1 medicines can enhance liver health regardless of weight loss, with significant improvements noted even in participants who did not shed pounds. Wegovy, a drug produced by Novo Nordisk, has been clinically proven to greatly improve markers of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, a serious liver disease that affects about six percent of adults in the U.S. Meanwhile, Medicaid spending on GLP-1 drugs in Pennsylvania reached $1.3 billion in 2025, prompting state officials to consider cuts to ensure that medications are used effectively while managing costs.

(UPDATED April 15, 2026 04:01 UTC)

A recent study published on Saturday, reveals that GLP-1 medications can enhance liver health independently of weight loss, with notable improvements seen even in participants who did not shed pounds. Dr. Daniel Drucker pointed out that this advancement in liver health should prompt health insurers to rethink how they evaluate the effectiveness of these drugs, especially as Pennsylvania's Medicaid spending on GLP-1 medications reached $1.3 billion in 2025, doubling the previous year’s expenditure. As of January 20th26, several states, including Pennsylvania, have restricted coverage for GLP-1 drugs to individuals with diabetes or those meeting specific criteria, reflecting ongoing concerns about the financial sustainability of these treatments within Medicaid programs.

(UPDATED April 14, 2026 23:15 UTC)

A study published on Saturday, reveals that GLP-1 medications can significantly reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes, as well as improve outcomes in heart failure, even in patients who do not lose weight. Meanwhile, several states, including California and Pennsylvania, have recently restricted Medicaid coverage for GLP-1 drugs, citing unsustainable costs and limiting access primarily to those with specific health conditions. Dr. Matthew Klebanoff noted the financial challenges faced by payers in covering these medications for all potential beneficiaries.

(UPDATED April 14, 2026 21:18 UTC)

A study published on Saturday, suggests that genetics may explain why 10 to 15 percent of people do not respond to GLP-1 medications for weight loss. Meanwhile, Wegovy received FDA approval in August 20th26 for treating metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, a serious liver disease affecting about six percent of U.S. adults, as the obesity rate in the country fell to 37 percent in 2025. In Pennsylvania, Medicaid spending on GLP-1 drugs reached $1.3 billion in 2025, prompting the state to consider limiting access to these medications based on body mass index and other health factors.

(UPDATED April 14, 2026 19:25 UTC)

Dr. Daniel Drucker, a leading researcher in GLP-1 medicines, and Dr. Jody Dushay, who prescribes these medications in Boston, joined other experts to discuss the growing use of drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound, which help reduce cravings and improve exercise enjoyment. With the obesity rate in the U.S. reaching 40% in August 20th23 and Medicaid spending on GLP-1 drugs in Pennsylvania hitting $1.3 billion in 2025, states are now restricting coverage due to the unsustainable rise in costs. In January 20th26, Pennsylvania cut Medicaid coverage for these medications, prompting discussions about limiting access based on health factors like body mass index.