Injected weight-loss drugs Wegovy, from Novo Nordisk, and Eli Lilly's Zepbound have U.S. list prices of over $1,000 a month. For some patients, much of that cost is covered by health insurance. For those without coverage, both Novo and Lilly recently began selling their drugs directly to U.S. consumers at a cash price of $499 a month.

While the primary target for these medication is weight loss, it’s not the only metric by which the drugs should be evaluated and prescribed. Glass points out that obesity is a complex condition, and people with obesity often have other health issues as well, related to the heart, kidney, and liver. “It’s not just about weight,” he says.