CLEVELAND (WJW) – There’s a new weapon in the fight against obesity in America with the approval of a new drug by the FDA on Friday.

Scott Butsch, Director of Obesity Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic‘s Bariatric and Metabolic Institute, says he is excited by the news. .

“I think we have to understand that obesity is a chronic disease and that we need to take it seriously,” Butsch said.

“The study population lost more than 15% body weight loss and a third of the patients lost more than 20% of their body weight, which clearly is more than double that of other obesity medications that are on the market currently,” Butsch said.

“In this state and other states in the country, very few insurance companies believe that obesity is a chronic disease and thus cover adequate and appropriate obesity options,” the doctor said.

Butsch hopes this approval helps spur people to address their weight disorders and providers to take obesity seriously. .

“For many, these medications may really be a game changer and get them down to a normal body weight,” Butsch said.