One pill makes you smaller: the demand for anti-obesity drugs.

摘要: The doubling of obesity in the U.S. over last 25 years has led policymakers and physicians to encourage weight loss, but few methods loss are effective. One promising avenue is pharmacotherapy. However, little known about use anti-obesity drugs. This paper describes market for drugs studies utilization using data from Medical Expenditure Panel Survey 1996–2002, a period that interesting because it covers introduction three, withdrawal two, market. Our results point wide sociodemographic disparities drug use. Women almost 200% more likely than men Hispanics African-Americans only 39% as Whites them. Those with prescription coverage 46% drugs. We also find vast majority subjects who approved take these not taking them, significant number We strong evidence well-publicized 1997 fenfluramine dexfenfluramine had chilling effect on overall difference observed characteristics between those took withdrawn other market.