About 42% of U.S. adults are obese, the CDC says. GLP-1 medications have changed the picture for people hoping to reduce risks with obesity.

Weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy are gaining popularity as quick fixes for shedding pounds. Known as GLP-1 agonists, these medications work by imitating a gut hormone that reduces hunger,

The stocks of companies that make the new class of drugs to treat obesity and manage diabetes were higher across the board early Tuesday, after the Biden administration proposed a rule that would allow Medicare or Medicaid to cover the expensive medications.

The potential health benefits of GLP-1 diabetes and weight loss meds keep piling up: New research shows they may also shield your kidneys from harm. In the largest study to date on the effects of the drugs on the kidneys, researchers found GLP-1s help the protect the organs in people with or without diabetes.

The proposal would expand coverage of anti-obesity drugs to 7.5 million people covered by Medicare and Medicaid, the Biden administration said.

While recent advances in medicine have created prescription anti-obesity GLP-1 medications — like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro — accessibility to these drugs is limited. The average prescription costs $1,

The Biden Administration released plans for a new rule that would require Medicare and Medicaid to cover anti-obesity medications. But it's not clear if the proposed change will go into effect.