With a new deal, President Donald Trump promises to lower prices on popular items. weight loss drugsthe use of GLP-1 therapeutics such as Ozempic and Munjaro may soon see another surge. This trend is already spreading unevenly across the country, with some states seeing larger increases than others.
2024 report based on insurance claims data from Purple Labs, a Pennsylvania health analytics company. GLP-1 Newsroom We analyzed the estimated number of prescriptions for weight loss and diabetes drugs by state.
Prescription records come from both commercial and government insurers and do not include those who paid cash, used a telemedicine provider, used a combined version, or were uninsured. That means the actual number is likely much higher.
Why microdosing Ozempic is becoming as common as taking a multivitamin
The report identified the following states where 15% or more of the state’s population is prescribed GLP-1 for weight loss or diabetes management:
See the list below.
Weight Loss Doctor Shares How GLP-1S Can Rewire Your Body Against Disease
The highest rates of GLP-1 use are concentrated in the South, Midwest, and Appalachia, likely due to higher rates of obesity and diabetes.
The report also identified states with the lowest usage, primarily in coastal and western regions. Hawaii had the lowest overall prescriptions.
See list below.
Could GLP-1 weight loss drugs like Ozempic become a “panacea”?
Dr. Brett Osborne, a neurologist and longevity expert in Florida, often prescribes GLP-1 drugs to his patients, who take microdoses daily to promote heart health.
“These drugs are primarily prescribed for the following purposes: type 2 diabetesBut the tide is changing, and in my humble opinion, these drugs will soon be used more to treat obese (or clearly ‘overweight’) people without diabetes, although there is usually a high degree of crossover between the two conditions,” Osborn told FOX News Digital.
He also predicts that GLP-1 will soon be used to treat and prevent vascular disease, curb alcohol use, combat gambling addiction, slow cognitive decline, and perhaps as a complement to chemotherapy. cancer treatment.
“Prescribing practices and indications are expanding rapidly, so we need to be cautious in our conclusions,” Osborne said. “That being said, my guess is that these drugs are being prescribed more.” In states such as KentuckyWest Virginia and other Midwestern states with high obesity and diabetes epidemics.
The Trust for America’s Health recently released a State of Obesity report based on 2024 data from the CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
The report identifies the following 10 U.S. states with the highest adult obesity rates, all located in the South or Midwest.
According to insurance claims data, at least 15% of the population in 9 out of 10 states is prescribed GLP-1.
Click here to sign up for our health newsletter
Overall, 19 states had adult obesity rates of 35% or higher, compared to 23 states the previous year.
This was the first time there were no adults in any state. Obesity rate Less than 25%, according to the report.
According to the report, the states with the lowest obesity rates are:
Test yourself with our latest lifestyle quiz
“Structural barriers to healthy eating and physical activity require continued policy attention and investment,” J. Nadine Gracia, MD, president and CEO of the Trust for America’s Health, said in a statement.
For more health stories, click here
“It is vital that governments and other sectors invest (rather than cut) in proven programs that support support. good nutrition and ensuring that physical activity reaches all communities. ”
Fox News Digital has reached out to the GLP-1 manufacturer for comment.
