While some insurers are cutting rebates for Ozempic and similar weight-loss drugs, others are waiting to see whether the long-term benefits outweigh the risks.

A serious quandary for private health funds came to the fore when HBF, the largest health fund in Western Australia, announced its intention to cut rebates for weight-loss drugs including Ozempic from August this year.

Ozempic is the most recognised member of a family of medications known as GLP-1 agonists, originally created to control blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Demand increased exponentially when their ability to help people lose weight by suppressing their appetite became big news, with celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey and Elon Musk showing off the effect.

Fit for purpose

Many national governance agencies have yet to approve GLP-1 agonists for treatment of anything other than diabetes.

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