GLP-1 Weight Loss Drug Access Disparities — Preprint Version of the OneFlorida+ Study
This medRxiv preprint presents the same OneFlorida+ findings on low GLP-1 RA initiation rates (1.8%) and demographic disparities, prior to peer-reviewed publication.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Same as published version: only 1.8% of 319,949 eligible adults initiated GLP-1 RA anti-obesity medications, with significant racial, socioeconomic, and geographic disparities.
Key Numbers
N=319,949; 1.8% initiation rate; semaglutide 77.9%; same data as published version.
How They Did This
Retrospective cohort study using OneFlorida+ EHR data (2015-2024) with multivariable logistic regression — preprint version of peer-reviewed publication.
Why This Research Matters
Preprint made these important access disparity findings available to the research community months before formal publication, accelerating awareness of the GLP-1 access gap.
The Bigger Picture
The preprint-to-publication pipeline for this study illustrates how time-sensitive health equity data reaches the research community faster through preprint servers.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Preprint — not yet peer-reviewed at time of posting; same methodological limitations as the published version (single regional network, EHR data constraints).
Questions This Raises
- ?Were any findings modified between the preprint and final published version?
- ?How quickly did the preprint influence policy discussions about GLP-1 access equity?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 1.8% GLP-1 RA initiation rate among eligible adults (preprint version of published study)
- Evidence Grade:
- Preprint of a large retrospective cohort study; subsequently peer-reviewed and published in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.
- Study Age:
- Preprint posted in 2025; the peer-reviewed version was published in the same year (see index 288, PMID 40035205).
- Original Title:
- Trends and Disparities in Newer GLP1 Receptor Agonist Initiation among Real-World Adult Patients Eligible for Obesity Treatment.
- Published In:
- medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences (2025)
- Authors:
- Radwan, Rotana M(4), Lee, Yao An(5), Kotecha, Pareeta(4), Wright, Davene R, Hernandez, Inmaculada, Ramon, Ronald, Donahoo, William T, Chen, Yong, Allen, John M, Bian, Jiang, Guo, Jingchuan
- Database ID:
- RPEP-13164
Evidence Hierarchy
Watches what happens naturally without intervening.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Is this the same study as the Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism publication?
Yes — this is the medRxiv preprint of the same study (PMID 40035205) that was subsequently peer-reviewed and published. The core findings (1.8% initiation rate, demographic disparities) are the same.
Should I cite the preprint or published version?
For academic purposes, cite the published version in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism (PMID 40035205) as it represents the peer-reviewed, final record of this research.
Read More on RethinkPeptides
Cite This Study
https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/RPEP-13164APA
Radwan, Rotana M; Lee, Yao An; Kotecha, Pareeta; Wright, Davene R; Hernandez, Inmaculada; Ramon, Ronald; Donahoo, William T; Chen, Yong; Allen, John M; Bian, Jiang; Guo, Jingchuan. (2025). Trends and Disparities in Newer GLP1 Receptor Agonist Initiation among Real-World Adult Patients Eligible for Obesity Treatment.. medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.01.20.25320839
MLA
Radwan, Rotana M, et al. "Trends and Disparities in Newer GLP1 Receptor Agonist Initiation among Real-World Adult Patients Eligible for Obesity Treatment.." medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.01.20.25320839
RethinkPeptides
RethinkPeptides Research Database. "Trends and Disparities in Newer GLP1 Receptor Agonist Initia..." RPEP-13164. Retrieved from https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/radwan-2025-trends-and-disparities-in
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkPeptides research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.