The Case for Expanding Access to Weight-Loss Medications | Alison Sexton Ward Mar 12, 2026 Mar 12, 2026 0 × GLP-1 drugs are changing consumer behaviors, prompting businesses to find news ways to meet shifting customer demands. Michael Yoshida reports. Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Alison Sexton Ward kAmp=2C>65 3J C:D:?8 C2E6D @7 @36D:EJ[ AF3=:4 962=E9 @77:4:2=D 92G6 FC865 p>6C:42?D 7@C 564256D E@ 62E 36EE6C[ >@G6 >@C6 2?5 >2<6 962=E9:6C 49@:46D] *6E @36D:EJ C2E6D <6AE C:D:?8[ A62<:?8 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^?6HD]82==FA]4@>^A@==^ehedhh^@36D:EJ\C2E6\564=:?:?8]2DAIRiOiE6IEl%96Ta_3:886DETa_C65F4E:@?Ta_:?Ta_@36D:EJ[`Ta_>65:4:?6Ta_7@CTa_H6:89ETa_=@DD]Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmc_T @7 p>6C:42?D :? a_aak^2m] %96 564=:?6 D:?46 E96? :D =:?<65 E@ D@>6E9:?8 6=D6i 2 ?6H 4=2DD @7 >65:42E:@?D <?@H? 2D v{!\`]k^AmkAm%96 2CC:G2= @7 E96D6 5CF8D 92D 9:DE@C:4 :>A=:42E:@?D 7@C p>6C:42?D’ 962=E9] ~36D:EJ 2?5 :ED C6=2E65 4@?5:E:@?D — :?4=F5:?8 5:236E6D[ 962CE 5:D62D6[ DEC@<6 2?5 42?46C — 2C6 C6DA@?D:3=6 7@C 2 =2C86 A6C46?E286 @7 562E9D 2??F2==J 2?5 244@F?E 7@C 2 D:8?:7:42?E A2CE @7 E96 ?2E:@?’D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]962=E92772:CD]@C8^5@:^`_]`bff^9=E9277]a_ad]__dcdnFE>0D@FC46l492E8AE]4@>Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmSd]b EC:==:@?k^2m :? 962=E9 42C6 4@DED]k^Am People are also reading… Scamman named Shenandoah Girls Basketball Team MVP, Cullin, Estes earn varsity awards An enjoyable 5-sport career ends with Teagan Brunk's top 2, tennis and baseball Clarinda boys basketball celebrates big, successful senior class Shenandoah Wrestling celebrates a senior class that changed the program Leaning on friendship, toughness, Kylie Valdez leads at Essex All-state honors for Shenandoah's Scamman State committee approves Shenandoah's move to Western Iowa Conference Shenandoah announces Mustangs as unified mascot Clarinda, Shenandoah bowling teams continue to impress Graves named Clarinda Boys Wrestling MVP State medals, plenty of returning talent lead area wrestling teams Clarinda's Dow signs with Nebraska Rodeo Shenandoah's Gray to bowl at Iowa Western Clarinda's Meyers signs with Morningside Bowling Spring Sports Scoreboard: Friday, March 13 kAmv{!\` >65:42E:@?D =:<6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6;>]@C8^5@:^A57^`_]`_de^}ty|@2a_ba`gbn2CE:4=6%@@=DlECF6U2>AjFE>0D@FC46l492E8AE]4@>Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmD6>28=FE:56k^2m 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6;>]@C8^5@:^A57^`_]`_de^?6;>@2aa_e_bgnFE>0D@FC46l492E8AE]4@>Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmE:CK6A2E:56k^2m 96=A A2E:6?ED =@D6 `dT E@ a_T @7 E96:C 3@5J H6:89E[ @FE4@>6D E92E 3692G:@C2= :?E6CG6?E:@?D 92G6 ?6G6C 249:6G65 2E D42=6]k^AmkAm*6E :?DFC2?46 4@G6C286 7@C v{!\`D AC6D4C:365 7@C H6:89E =@DD C6>2:?D =:>:E65] |:==:@?D @7 p>6C:42?D =24< 2446DD E@ EC62E>6?ED E92E 4@F=5 =6?8E96? 2?5 :>AC@G6 E96:C =:G6D[ H9:=6 36?5:?8 E96 4FCG6 @7 &]$] 962=E9 42C6 DA6?5:?8]k^Am kA 52E2\DE2CElQc__hQ 52E2\6?5lQcdgeQmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^D4926776C]FD4]65F^C6D62C49^=:76E:>6\D@4:2=\C6EFC?D\7C@>\6IA2?5:?8\2446DD\E@\2?E:\@36D:EJ\>65:42E:@?D^nFE>0D@FC46l492E8AE]4@>Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm#6D62C49k^2m 2E E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 $@FE96C? r2=:7@C?:2’D $4926776C r6?E6C 7@C w62=E9 !@=:4J U2>Aj t4@?@>:4D 7:?5D E92E H:56DAC625 2446DD E@ v{!\` E96C2A:6D 4@F=5 86?6C2E6 D:8?:7:42?E 36?67:ED E@ D@4:6EJ] *@F?8 25F=ED DE2CE:?8 EC62E>6?E 36EH66? 286D ad E@ bc 4@F=5 82:? ?62C=J EH@ J62CD @7 =:76 6IA64E2?4J[ DA6?5 ?62C=J D:I 76H6C J62CD H:E9 5:236E6D[ 2?5 C65F46 E96:C C:D< @7 9JA6CE6?D:@?[ 962CE 5:D62D6[ DEC@<6 2?5 42?46C] tG6? |65:42C6 36?67:4:2C:6D H9@ DE2CE EC62E>6?E 36EH66? 286D ed 2?5 fc 42? 6IA64E E@ =:G6 23@FE D:I >@?E9D =@?86C 2?5 6IA6C:6?46 C65F465 E:>6 =:G:?8 H:E9 5:236E6D]k^Am kA 52E2\DE2CElQcdggQ 52E2\6?5lQd`ghQmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^D4926776C]FD4]65F^C6D62C49^36?67:ED\@7\>65:42C6\4@G6C286\7@C\H6:89E\=@DD\5CF8D^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm#6D62C49k^2m 2=D@ D9@HD E92E |65:42C6 4@G6C286 2=@?6 H@F=5 86?6C2E6 ?62C=J S` EC:==:@? :? 4F>F=2E:G6 D@4:2= 36?67:ED @G6C E96 ?6IE 564256] |65:42C6 :ED6=7 H@F=5 D2G6 36EH66? S`fd 3:==:@? 2?5 Sacd 3:==:@? :? E96 7:CDE `_ J62CD[ H:E9 e_T @7 D2G:?8D 7C@> C65F465 9@DA:E2=:K2E:@?D 2?5 ?FCD:?8 9@>6 42C6] x?G6DE>6?E :? 3C@25 2446DD 4@F=5 86?6C2E6 C62= C6EFC?D 6I4665:?8 `bT J62C=J 6G6? 27E6C 244@F?E:?8 7@C EC62E>6?E 4@DED[ A6C7@C>:?8 36EE6C E92? E96 &]$] DE@4< >2C<6E @G6C E9:D 46?EFCJ] (9:=6 E96 G2=F6 @7 v{!\` EC62E>6?E G2C:6D 3J 286 2?5 F?56C=J:?8 962=E9 C:D<[ 2== 8C@FAD H@F=5 D66 A@D:E:G6 =:76E:>6 82:?D]k^Am kA 52E2\DE2CElQd`h`Q 52E2\6?5lQdddfQmqC@25 2446DD 4@F=5 2=D@ 5C2>2E:42==J C65F46 962=E9 5:DA2C:E:6D] ~36D:EJ 5:DAC@A@CE:@?2E6=J 27764ED q=24< 2?5 w:DA2?:4 p>6C:42?D[ H:E9 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>:?@C:EJ962=E9]99D]8@G^@36D:EJ\2?5\3=24<27C:42?\2>6C:42?DQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmcbTk^2m 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>:?@C:EJ962=E9]99D]8@G^@36D:EJ\2?5\9:DA2?:4=2E:?@\2>6C:42?DQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmbfTk^2m @7 6249 A@AF=2E:@? 27764E65[ C6DA64E:G6=J] q=24< 25F=ED 6IA6C:6?46 D:8?:7:42?E=J =6DD H6:89E =@DD 7C@> 3692G:@C2= :?E6CG6?E:@?D 4@>A2C65 H:E9 H9:E6 25F=ED[ 2?5 =@H6C\:?4@>6 :?5:G:5F2=D 92G6 =6DD 2446DD E@ E96D6 AC@8C2>D]k^Am kA 52E2\DE2CElQdddhQ 52E2\6?5lQdedcQm%96 DE2EFD BF@ — C6=J:?8 @? =:76DEJ=6 >@5:7:42E:@?D — 92D 6IA2?565 6I:DE:?8 962=E9 5:DA2C:E:6D]k^Am kA 52E2\DE2CElQdedeQ 52E2\6?5lQdhceQm{:<6 36E2 3=@4<6CD 7@C 9JA6CE6?D:@?[ v{!\`D D:>A=:7J EC62E>6?E] p7E6C 36E2 3=@4<6CD’ 2AAC@G2= :? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]752]8@G^23@FE\752^752\9:DE@CJ\6I9:3:ED^5CF8\E96C2A6FE:4D\C68F=2E:@?\FDQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm`hefk^2m[ C65F4E:@?D :? 9JA6CE6?D:@? 2?5 42C5:24 5:D62D6 H6C6 >@C6 6BF2= 24C@DD :?4@>6 =6G6=D — E96 >65:42E:@? 3C:5865 E96 82A E92E 3692G:@C2= :?E6CG6?E:@?D 4@F=5?’E] v{!\`D 42? 5@ E96 D2>6 7@C @36D:EJ]k^AmkAmrC:E:4D 2C8F6 E92E v{!\`D 4@DE E@@ >F49 E@ 3C@256? 2446DD] %92E 42D6 :D 725:?8 BF:4<=J] x?;64E23=6 AC:46D 2D 9:89 2D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]4?34]4@>^a_ae^_a^ac^?@G@\?@C5:D<\E@\D=2D9\H68@GJ\@K6>A:4\FD\=:DE\AC:46D\3J\FA\E@\d_A6C46?E]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmS`[b__ A6C >@?E9 92G6 72==6? d_T @C >@C6k^2m] p ?6H[ @?46\2\52J v{!\` A:==[ H9:49 4@F=5 D:8?:7:42?E=J :?4C62D6 E96 ?F>36C @7 A2E:6?ED H9@ H@F=5 4@?D:56C EC62E>6?E[ 92D 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]4??]4@>^a_ae^_`^_d^962=E9^H68@GJ\A:==\H6:89E\=@DDQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmDE2CE6C AC:46 @7 S`ch 2 >@?E9k^2m]k^Am kAm&?7@CEF?2E6=J[ 76H6C E92? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^D4926776C]FD4]65F^C6D62C49^=:76E:>6\D@4:2=\C6EFC?D\7C@>\6IA2?5:?8\2446DD\E@\2?E:\@36D:EJ\>65:42E:@?D^RiOiE6IEls6DA:E6Ta_E96:CTa_56>@?DEC2E65Ta_677:424JTarTa_v{![:?G6DE>6?EDTa_4@>>@?=JTa_C64@8?:K65Ta_2DTa_G2=F23=6]Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm@?6\E9:C5 @7 :?DFC6CDk^2m 4@G6C v{!\` >65:42E:@?D 7@C H6:89E =@DD[ 2?5 p>6C:42?D H9@ A2J 42D9 7@C E96 5CF8D 42?’E 4@F?E E9@D6 4@DED E@H2C5 E96:C :?DFC2?46 565F4E:3=6D] |65:42C6 92D 4@G6C65 E96 5CF8D @?=J 7@C E96 EC62E>6?E @7 5:236E6D @C[ :? D@>6 42D6D[ 7@C @36D:EJ\C6=2E65 962CE 5:D62D6]k^Am kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qmp |65:42C6 A:=@E AC@8C2> 368:??:?8 =2E6C E9:D J62C H:== 4@G6C v{!\`D 7@C @36D:EJ[ 3FE @?=J 7@C 36?67:4:2C:6D H9@ >66E DA64:7:4 4=:?:42= 4C:E6C:2]k^DA2?mk^Am kAm%96 9:DE@CJ @7 5:236E6D @776CD 2? :>A@CE2?E A2C2==6=] yFDE 2D 5:236E6D 42>6 E@ 36 C64@8?:K65 2D 2 3:@=@8:42= 5:D62D6 — C2E96C E92? 2 =:76DEJ=6 @?6 — EC62E23=6 H:E9 :?DF=:?[ :E :D E:>6 E@ 6IE6?5 E96 D2>6 F?56CDE2?5:?8 E@ @36D:EJ EC62E>6?E]k^Am Ward is a research scientist at the USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics. She wrote this for InsideSources.com. 0 Comments Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story WEIGHT-LOSS DRUGS RESHAPE CONSUMER BEHAVIOR GLP-1 drugs are changing consumer behaviors, prompting businesses to find news ways to meet shifting customer demands. Michael Yoshida reports.
WEIGHT-LOSS DRUGS RESHAPE CONSUMER BEHAVIOR GLP-1 drugs are changing consumer behaviors, prompting businesses to find news ways to meet shifting customer demands. Michael Yoshida reports.
