A new study has found that Black Americans, who have disproportionately high rates of obesity, were significantly underrepresented in clinical trials for the popular weight loss drug Ozempic. The research, led by Dr. Kimberly Johnson at the University of Minnesota, analyzed participant data from 10 major Ozempic trials.
Despite making up 13.6% of the U.S. population and having obesity rates nearing 50%, Black individuals comprised only 6.2% of trial participants on average. In contrast, white participants were overrepresented, making up 78.4% of trial subjects but only 59.3% of the population.
“This lack of diversity in clinical trials means we don’t fully understand how this medication may affect Black Americans,” said Dr. Johnson. “It’s a critical issue given the high burden of obesity in this community.”
Obesity expert Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford of Harvard Medical School, who was not involved in the study, called the findings “disappointing but not surprising,” noting that minority underrepresentation in medical research is a longstanding problem.
The study authors urge Ozempic manufacturer Novo Nordisk and federal regulators to prioritize diversity in future trials to ensure equitable obesity treatment for all Americans.
See: “New obesity drugs are seemingly everywhere but Black folks feel left out” (June 7, 2024)
