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Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Multidisciplinary Approach to Obesity Management: A Case Report
Published on: May 30, 2025
Racial and ethnic disparities in GLP-1 prescriptions among veterans with obesity across direct and community care
Rebekah I Stein1, Jessica Phelan1, Austin B Frakt1,2,3
1Department of Health Policy & Management, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, United States.
Introduction:
Obesity is an increasing chronic medical condition facing the veteran population. Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s) have emerged as an optimal treatment for obesity- and related-medical disorders. As the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) continues to expand community-based care purchased under the MISSION Act, it is unknown whether veterans receiving community-based primary care experience comparable access to GLP-1 prescriptions.
Methods:
In this national analysis of VHA data, we assessed differences in GLP-1 prescribing among veterans with overweight or obesity in VHA direct care compared with community care.
Results:
Veterans with 3 or more primary care visits receiving VHA-direct primary care had 1.2 percentage points (pp) higher adjusted probability of GLP-1 prescriptions (20% higher odds) than veterans receiving mostly community primary care. Black and Asian veterans had 1.8-pp and 2.2-pp lower probabilities of GLP-1 prescriptions (26% and 34% lower odds, respectively) compared with White counterparts across both settings.
Conclusion:
Researchers and policymakers should continue to monitor whether differences in care between the direct and community settings contribute to disparities in GLP-1 access.
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