As we know from recent research conducted by the National Institutes of Health, gastrointestinal (GI) conditions remain highly prevalent in the U.S., with 61% of Americans, or nearly 2 in 3, reporting experiencing a GI issue at least once per week. Painful GI symptoms can result from a multitude of things: an unknown allergy, undiagnosed digestive disorder like IBS, GERD or IBD, stress, traveling, or simply not exercising enough. Now, providers and employers are also dealing with GI side effects from popular GLP-1 medications, which are used to treat type 2 diabetes and weight loss. While these drugs have helped millions of Americans overcome the detrimental effects of obesity and diabetes, the digestive symptoms associated with their use have been shown to significantly impact quality of life, creating knock-on effects and costs for employers.

GLP-1 medications: What are they and how are they impacting employers?

Glucagon-like peptide-1, or GLP-1, is a class of medications used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity. They mimic the GLP-1 hormone, which the body naturally produces to help regulate blood sugar, appetite, and digestion. GLP-1 medications help lower blood glucose levels, prevent the liver from releasing too much sugar into the bloodstream, and increase feelings of fullness by activating areas of the brain to tell the body that it's full, which, in turn, helps reduce appetite.