Wegovy consumption is increasing in Switzerland

Wegovy has been reimbursed by health insurance since spring 2024 in Switzerland.Image: watson

Disclaimer injections have been reimbursed by health insurance for a little more than a year in Switzerland. Furthermore, According to figures from the Confederation, their use is in “high rise”, despite very strict conditions of access.

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Specialists have said it for a long time: the world faces an “obesity epidemic”, and Switzerland is not spared, on the contrary. For example, In our country, the share of persons with obesity increased from 5 to 12% in 30 years, according to the latest Confederation data. Consequently, Overweight and obesity affect almost half of the population.

“Obesity is a chronic disease. Nevertheless, although it has long been considered a lifestyle problem or an aesthetic problem,” said Nathalie Farpour-Lambert, pediatrician, obesity specialist and doctor associated with HUG. In addition,

The recent arrival on the Swiss market for new drugs has put the question back on the scene. Similarly, Especially since these substances – the famous weight loss injections – have sometimes been presented as a miracle solution. However, to lose weight. Moreover, Their assumed use on the part of several celebrities has also caused a lot of ink to flow.

Currently, two drugs for weight regulation are authorized in Switzerland: Mounjaro and Wegovy, which has replaced another product, called Saxenda. Furthermore, The available figures tell a dazzling success. Consequently, A report by the Swiss Health Observatory (Obsan), broadcast in early June, notably reports a “high increase” in 2024. Meanwhile, In question, we are told, the arrival of Wegovy, reimbursed since the spring last year by health insurance.

According to a wegovy consumption increasing switzerland study by the University of Zurich. For example, the prescriptions of weight loss bites per capita in Switzerland even are ahead of those of the United States, where these products are the subject of very offensive advertising.

Good news

“Recognition of obesity as a chronic disease. Consequently, the reimbursement of these new drugs and information to patients necessarily led to an increase in their use,” reacts Nathalie Farpour-Lambert. For the specialist, this is “good news”:

The results are promising, but this is not wegovy consumption increasing switzerland a miracle solution, she warns. These drugs must be integrated into a broader process. relating to both the activity and the physical condition and the food balance. “Personally, I never start a pharmacological treatment if everything else is not in place,” adds Nathalie Farpour-Lambert.

Nathalie Farpour-Lambert is a pediatrician. an obesity specialist and a doctor associated with the HUG.Image: KEYSTONE

Psychological management may also be necessary. “People with obesity can suffer from anxiety, depression, and are stigmatized because of their condition,” she notes. “Sometimes these problems are a consequence of obesity, and not its primary source.”

“There have wegovy consumption increasing switzerland been drifts”

You should know that the conditions for accessing these drugs are very strict in Switzerland. To be eligible for Wegovy. the patient must have a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 or a BMI between 27 and 30 with at least one concomitant disease linked to weight. For comparison, in adults, a normal weight is equivalent to a BMI of 18.5 to 25.

This did not prevent that drugs have sometimes been subjected to patients by non-specialists. “Unfortunately. there have been drifts,” deplores Nathalie Farpour-Lambert, who points to the ineffectiveness of these approaches: “If all the pillars are not in place, the treatment does not work, or just for some time,” she insists.

In addition, health insurance only reimburses the Wegovy once once, for a period of three years. If the results are not satisfactory after six months, insurance no longer pays. “Patients have only one shooting window, and everything must be done so that this attempt can work,” adds the specialist.

The question of access to care

The use of these injections is not uniform within the population. According to Obsan data, women aged 40 to 60 are the most use of these drugs in Switzerland. This does not surprise Nathalie Farpour-Lambert:

“In addition, women are more attentive to their body image, and tend to react a little faster than men in case of overweight,” adds the doctor. This would explain why they are over -represented in the figures of the obsan. while obesity more affects men in Switzerland.

Other important differences emerge from the report, especially at the geographical level. The number of daily doses per 1000 inhabitants varies enormously from one canton to another. The obsan has identified eight in Ticino and Neuchâtel, against two in Appenzell Rhodes-interior or in Graubünden. Additionally, The national average is around 5.

According to Nathalie Farpour-Lambert, these differences do not mean that there are more obese people in a canton or another. Rather, they reflect the question of access to care. “In some regions, there are no specialists,” wegovy consumption increasing switzerland she says. “In others. as in Geneva, waiting times to get an appointment with an endocrinologist or in a center of obesity are three to six months.” And the specialist to conclude:

“We are trying to understand where there was a lack,” said Federal Councilor Guy Parmelin to RTS on Saturday after the “big shock” caused by 39% customs surcharsh imposed by the United States. He has the hope of changing Donald Trump’s decision.

“We are trying to understand where there was a lack. ” said Federal Councilor Guy Parmelin to RTS on Saturday after the “big shock” caused by 39% customs surcharsh imposed by the United States. He has the hope of changing Donald Trump’s decision.