Low-Obesity, High-Income Areas Purchase the Most 'Obesity Treatment Drugs'... The Paradox of Inequality in New York, USA

NYT, "Reflects Socioeconomic Inequality"
"Those Who Actually Need Medicine Face Access Difficulties"

In New York, USA, the area with the lowest obesity rate and the wealthiest residents, such as WeGoBi, was found to use obesity treatment drugs the most.

On the 27th (local time), The New York Times (NYT), citing the US insurance analysis firm Trilliant, reported that last year, 2.3% of residents in Manhattan's Upper East Side were prescribed obesity treatment injections such as Ozempic and WeGoBi.

This area is known as a former residence of New York's upper class and is still famous as a place where wealthy people gather.

It is also known as a region where various health-related indicators, as well as education and economic ability, are significantly higher compared to other areas.

According to 2015 statistics, the average life expectancy of residents in this area is 85 years, the highest in New York. This is 9 years longer than the average life expectancy of 76 years in East Harlem, a predominantly Black residential area bordering the northern boundary.

Also, while the overall obesity rate in New York is 25.4%, the obesity rate among Upper East Side residents is only 9%.

In contrast, the obesity rate in Southeast Queens, located across the East River, reaches 43.4%.

Ironically, the rate of prescriptions for obesity treatment injections such as Ozempic in Brooklyn East New York, where obesity and diabetes incidence are high, is only 1.2%, half that of the Upper East Side.

In other words, obesity treatment drugs were prescribed the most in the area of New York with the lowest obesity and diabetes incidence rates.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The media pointed out that this phenomenon reflects economic and social inequality.

Although obesity treatment drugs have become popular and shortages have occurred, making it difficult for patients who actually need the drugs to obtain them, the wealthy can easily access them.

Furthermore, there is a significant gap in access to obesity treatment drugs depending on health insurance.

The public health insurance for low-income groups, Medicaid, in New York does not cover obesity treatment drugs for weight loss purposes, only for diabetes treatment. In contrast, general health insurance used by the wealthy provides coverage even for weight loss purposes.

A mansion in the Upper East Side of New York.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Bria Zaisingani, an obesity specialist at NYU Langone Hospital, said, "I hope that people who really need obesity treatment can have easier access to the medication."

Ozempic and WeGoBi are known as obesity treatment drugs that regulate blood sugar and insulin and suppress appetite.

In the US, many people are losing weight through these obesity treatment drugs. Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, revealed his diet secret as "fasting, and WeGoBi." Singer Kim Kardashian also stated that she lost weight rapidly after taking WeGoBi.

According to the media, the US diet drug market grew to an annual scale of $75 billion (about 100 trillion KRW) last year.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.