Over her three-decade career, weight management physician Dr. Sarah Ro has seen hundreds of patients. Many of them are on Medicaid and have become yo-yo dieters who, despite their best efforts at changing their eating habits and lifestyles,

Given that more than 40% of Indian adults are struggling with obesity and diabetes, affordable weight-loss drugs are expected to significantly disrupt the pharmaceutical landscape in the country this year.

Researchers from Canada reviewed the results of 26 trials to determine which of the weight loss jabs are the most effective for obese adults who do not have diabetes.

According to that study, those who use GLP-1 dugs, such as Wegovy and Ozempic, cut their grocery spend by about 6% during the first few months after starting their prescription, translating to $416 annually. The impact is even greater in higher-income households earning over $125,000, who reduce their grocery spending by 9%, or $690, annually.

GLP-1 receptor agonists, which can cost around $1,300 a month, have caused an increase in premiums that “affect all members, whether they utilize weight loss drugs or not,” IBX said in a statement.

A new trend gaining popularity among people trying to lose weight is microdosing the diabetes medication Ozempic. Experts weigh the pros and cons of the practice.