WASHINGTON, DC  – November 8, 2023 – On November 8^th, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new weight-loss medicine called Zepbound. Its generic name is tirzepatide. Qualifying patients must be obese, with a Body Mass Index (BMI) at 30 or greater, or overweight, with a BMI greater than or equal to 27, and with at least one weight-related medical problem. The drug should be used in combination with regular exercise and a low-calorie diet. Zepbound is a version of the popular diabetes medicine Mounjaro, both made by Eli Lilly. The FDA’s authorization was based on a study that showed that patients without diabetes can lose about 18% of their body weight and a study of diabetic patients who lost about 12%. The drug should be available in the U.S. by the end of the year.

New diabetic and weight-loss drugs may be the answer to the obesity epidemic in the United States. Ozempic, (with the active ingredient semaglutide), made by Novo Nordisk, was originally developed to treat diabetes by controlling blood sugar. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Ozempic for treating diabetes in 2017. However, rapid weight loss after taking the medicine dramatically increased its popularity. In 2021, the FDA approved Wegovy, a similar drug made by the same company with a higher dose of the semaglutide, to treat obesity. Wegovy’s indications are the same as Zepbound. More than 100 million adults and 15 million children in America are considered obese, putting them at risk for the development of weight-related health problems like high blood pressure, arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers. Studies have shown that obese patients can lose about 15-20% of their body weight taking Wegovy and Mounjaro, respectively.

Each of the 4 drugs are appetite suppressors. They work by mimicking hormones that are released after people eat by creating the feeling of fullness. Tirzepatide and semaglutide bind with receptors in the pancreas that stimulate insulin production which lowers blood sugar. They also bind with receptors in the brain’s appetite control center to suppress hunger. Ozempic has been proven effective in treating high blood sugar associated with diabetes and it can also lessen the risk of cardiovascular disease in diabetics. In a recent study from the Cleveland Clinic published in the New England Journal of Medicine, Wegovy has been shown to reduce the risk of serious heart problems in people without diabetes. Most people will have to take the drugs their entire life or they will gain their weight back. These medicines are administered by a weekly shot.

Common side-effects are nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and constipation. Other known side effects include dehydration, fatigue and headaches. Long-term complications are small but include a higher risk of thyroid cancer, acute pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, low blood sugar, damage to kidneys, injury to the retina, and suicidal thoughts.

The weight loss drugs will have to be taken indefinitely, so these medicines become a costly expense. Each drug cost about $1 thousand a month. The annual cost can be more than $12 thousand. Most insurers do not cover the cost of these medicines for weight loss. However, the pharmaceutical companies are heavily lobbying commercial insurers and government-funded Medicare to cover the cost of the weight-loss drugs because they may keep people healthier too.

The medicines are so popular that they have been worldwide shortages since the latter part of 2022. The diabetes medicine Ozempic has been frequently prescribed off-label for weight loss due to the shortage of Wegovy.

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Contact: Dr. Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, [email protected]

ASHEVILLE, NC –  November 15, 2023 – The COVID-19 metrics are on the CDC’s COVID Dashboard. For the week ending on October 28^th.

• Hospital admission levels are low in all 100 counties in North Carolina, including Buncombe County, and about 91% of the counties in the U.S. However, they have decreased in North Carolina and increased in Buncombe County from the previous week.
• Between 2.0 to 3.9% of the deaths in North Carolina were due to COVID, the third lowest level of 6 groups. This has decreased since the previous week.
• Emergency room visits for COVID-19 are minimal in North Carolina. This represents less than 1.5% of all ER visits, the lowest of 5 levels and fewer than the previous week.

Wastewater monitoring can be used to provide early warning for COVID outbreaks. The Buncombe & Henderson counties wastewater data for the week ending on November 1^st is on the North Carolina COVID Dashboard.

• The number of viral gene copies in each water sample is at an orange level representing the 2^nd highest level of 5 groups, currently between the 60^th and 80^th percentile relative to the past level measured at the same site.
• The 15-day rate of change of the number of viral gene copies in each water sample has increased from the previous week, at 10% to 99%, the middle level of 3 groups for a positive rate of change.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services wants everyone to know that:

• COVID-19 can affect people differently. Some people have mild symptoms like a cold and others have more severe symptoms like a bad case of the flu. Some effects can be long-lasting.
• Older adults and immunocompromised people are at a higher risk of developing severe illness and being hospitalized.

The Department of Health and Human Services recommends:

• Stay up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccines. The new updated vaccine, which has been available since September this year, is effective against the latest COVID strains. The CDC recommends the updated vaccine for everyone ages 6 months and older. The vaccine can reduce the risk of severe illness, becoming hospitalized or dying. The new updated vaccine is available locally at pharmacies, health centers and at the Buncombe County Health and Human Services Building at 40 Coxe Avenue in Asheville during regular business hours.
• For extra protection, wear an efficient medical grade mask
• People who are positive for COVID-19 or do not feel well should stay home
• People with any COVID symptoms should get tested
• If you test positive, your doctor may recommend medical treatment

If you get COVID, here’s the latest CDC guidelines:

• Isolate for 5 days provided the fever has resolved for at least 24 hours without taking any fever-reducing medicine. Isolation means staying home and away from others.
• After the isolation period, wear a high-quality mask around others at home and in public for the next 5 days
• Masking can stop earlier with 2 negative antigen tests taken 48 hours apart

More and more Americans have developed some immunity to COVID-19 from immunizations and previous infection. New variants continue to infect people with the most at-risk groups more susceptible to severe illness.

Dr. William Schaffner, professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, tells USA Today.com that cases should increase over the winter as they have the past 3 years. The risk of transmission can also increase during the upcoming holiday season when many people get together indoors.

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Contact: Dr. Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, [email protected]