The Food and Drug Administration has approved obesity medication Zepbound to treat moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea for obese adults. The announcement makes the Eli Lilly medication the first drug in the US approved to treat sleep apnea.
An estimated 39 million US adults suffer from the disorder, in which the upper airway becomes blocked, jolting people awake and causing them to gasp for air. While anyone can suffer from sleep apnea, obesity is a leading risk factor. Left untreated, the disorder can lead to memory loss, cognitive impairment, heart failure, stroke, and diabetes. The most prescribed treatment involves the use of a continuous positive airway pressure machine (see more, w/video).
A study found obese adults with the disorder lost an average of 20% of their body weight on Zepbound—and experienced 25 fewer breathing interruptions per hour of sleep. The FDA's approval could spur Medicare—and other insurers not currently covering the drugs for weight loss—to expand coverage.
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