• Mechelle D Claridy, Kathryn S Czepiel, Simar S Bajaj, and Fatima Cody Stanford.
• Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA.
• Mayo Clin. Proc. 2021 Dec 1; 96 (12): 299130002991-3000.

ObjectiveTo examine pharmacotherapy for obesity in the United States from 2011 to 2016 using a large, nationally representative sample.MethodsData were obtained during 6 years, 2011 to 2016, from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey. There were 3 types of visits identified: patients with obesity and an antiobesity drug mention; patients with obesity and no antiobesity drug mention; and patients without obesity and with antiobesity drug mention. The χ2 test was used to compare characteristics across each type of visit. To predict the odds of an antiobesity medication mention for patients with obesity, a logistic regression analysis was conducted.ResultsOf the overall weighted 196,872,870 office-based physician visits made by patients with obesity from 2011 to 2016, 1% mentioned an antiobesity drug. In addition, there were 760,470 office-based physician visits by patients without obesity but with an antiobesity medication mention. An antiobesity drug mention was more likely for those aged 51 years or older and those residing in the South (adjusted odds ratio, 5.31 95% CI, 1.19 to 23.59).ConclusionThere was a slight increase in antiobesity medication mentions, from 0.26% in 2011 to 0.28% in 2016, but only 1% of office-based visits for patients with obesity received a prescription for an antiobesity medication. Physicians tended to prescribe antiobesity medications to those with obesity aged 51 years or older and residing in the South. Antiobesity medication for treatment of obesity is significantly underused.Copyright © 2021 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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