Disparities in Adolescent and Young Adult Obesity Medication Dispensing: A Retrospective Linked Electronic Health Record (EHR) ‐Pharmacy Cohort, 2020–2025
Authors' conclusion
Nearly half of AYA OM prescriptions were never dispensed. Barriers to initiation persist and inequities affect Hispanic youth. Addressing insurance/Rx coverage constraints may improve equitable access.
Study context
- Population
- And young adults (AYAs) aged 12–20 with prescriptions for liraglutide, semaglutide, phentermine, phentermine-topiramate or tirzepatide, Nemours Children's Health EHR linked to Surescripts dispensing (2020–2025); youth with DM excluded≥ 1 obesity medication (OM) prescription
- Participants
- 1,194 participants
- Exposure
- Factors associated with OM dispensing
- Outcome
- Ever dispensed
Methodological detailslinked EHR-pharmacy data
- Linked EHR-pharmacy data
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Ever dispensed (≥ 1 fill)
- Liraglutide
- OR 2.40; all p ≤ 0.003
- Phentermine
- OR 3.32; all p ≤ 0.003
- Phentermine-topiramate
- OR 2.16; all p ≤ 0.003
- Tirzepatide
- OR 0.45; all p ≤ 0.003
- Received ≥ 1 fill, all AYAs
- 56.7%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | OR | P value |
|---|---|---|
| Dispensing by race and ethnicityHispanic vs Non-Hispanic White | 0.61 | P ≤ 0.001 |
Dispensing by insurance and Rx coverage
- Public insurance, OR (higher odds)
- 1.31
- Mixed insurance, OR (higher odds)
- 1.63
- Rx coverage, OR (higher odds)
- 2.00
- P value
- all p ≤ 0.05
Trends over time
- Despite increased rates of prescribing each year, rates of dispensing declined
Original publication
Disparities in Adolescent and Young Adult Obesity Medication Dispensing: A Retrospective Linked EHR ‐Pharmacy Cohort, 2020–2025. Obesity (Silver Spring). Published 30 January 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →