Managing the new wave of weight loss medication in general practice: A qualitative study
Open accessAbstract
Summary: In early 2023, a new type of weight loss medication, Wegovy (semaglutide), was made available in Denmark. Both subsequent media coverage and public demand were huge. Wegovy is only available by prescription, primarily via general practitioners. However, there is very little knowledge about how healthcare professionals (HCPs) in general practice might deal with the great demand for and attention surrounding a new weight loss drug. The aim of this qualitative study was, therefore, to explore how Wegovy is managed and negotiated in general practice, particularly in terms of prescribing and follow‐up. We conducted a focused ethnography study based on direct observation of consultations and both formal and informal interviews with seven doctors and four nurses from three general practices in Denmark. Using discourse analysis, we identified four central discourses revolving around trust in medicine, individual responsibility for health, the cost of weight loss medication, and the importance of shared decision‐making. This study shows that the availability of a new, sought‐after weight loss medication presents both opportunities and challenges for HCPs in general practice. The management of Wegovy involves numerous factors, including medical, economic, organizational, interpersonal and moral concerns.
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Clinicians describe patients seeking access to GLP1-RA medications as ''eager'' and proactively booking appointments, increasing pressures on the system.
“Clinicians describe patients seeking access to GLP1-RA medications as ''eager'' and proactively booking appointments, increasing pressures on the system.”
From The societal implications of using glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists for the treatment of obesity (2025) · cites this paper as [53]
In some countries such as the UK, GLP1-RAs are now used in primary care settings for weight management, and early evidence suggests that clinicians are largely optimistic about the rollout of GLP1-RAs.
“In some countries, such as the UK, GLP1-RAs are now used in primary care settings for weight management, and early evidence suggests that clinicians are largely optimistic about the rollout of GLP1-RAs.”
From The societal implications of using glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists for the treatment of obesity (2025) · cites this paper as [53]
Healthcare professionals are cautious about managing the new wave of pharmacotherapy within their current capacity and taking on additional responsibilities for a chronic relapsing condition.
“However, HCPs know that they will be responsible for the prescription and ongoing monitoring of these medications and are cautious about managing this new wave of pharmacotherapy within their current capacity 53 and taking on additional responsibilities for a chronic relapsing condition.”
From The societal implications of using glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists for the treatment of obesity (2025) · cites this paper as [53]
Cites
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Sørensen, M. S., Pottegård, A., Andersen, N. E., Thomsen, R. W., & Lundby, C. (2025) · Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism · doi:10.1111/dom.16222 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
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Self-citation
- Authors
- Andreassen, P., Jensen, S. D., Bruun, J. M., & Sandbæk, A.
- Affiliations
- The Danish National Center for Obesity Aarhus Denmark
- Aarhus University (DK)
- Corresponding author
- Andreassen, Pernille
- Venue
- Clinical Obesity
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2024-04-25
- Volume
- 14
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- e12666-e12666
- ISSN
- 1758-8103 (ISSN-L)
- 1758-8111
- OpenAlex
- W4395465917
- Cited by
- 23
- References
- 4
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 13
- FWCI
- 15.71
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Update notices
- correction (2025-05-26)
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Clinical Obesity (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Novo Nordisk Fonden
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Pharmacy › Obesity and Health Practices
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Pharmacology and Obesity Treatment
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Patient-Provider Communication in Healthcare
- Keywords
- Wegovy, semaglutide, anti-obesity drugs, general practice, drug prescribing, follow-up care, shared decision-making, trust in medicine, personal responsibility for health, drug costs, obesity treatment, healthcare professionals' perspectives, media coverage of drugs
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Attitude of Health Personnel, Denmark, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Obesity, Weight Loss, Anti-Obesity Agents, Trust, Qualitative Research, General Practitioners, General Practice
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