Prescriptions for GLP-1 receptor agonists, including Ozempic, Semaglutide, and Rybelsus, have surged over the last five years as their effectiveness in promoting weight loss gains attention beyond type 2 diabetes care. According to FAIR Health, prescriptions for GLP-1 drugs to treat overweight or obesity rose 587% from 2019 to 2024. The number of adults prescribed a GLP-1 without a type 2 diabetes diagnosis jumped nearly 1,961% during the same period (Figure 1).1
Figure 1: GLP-1 trends since 2019, created using data from FAIR Health study.1
HealthVerity Marketplace offers real-time visibility into one of the most significant pharmaceutical shifts in decades. Through linked, privacy-compliant pharmacy records, HealthVerity Marketplace includes prescription records on approximately 19.1 million patients taking GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic, Semaglutide, and Rybelsus. These records also offer unique insight into how much weight patients lose on GLP-1s like Ozempic in real-world settings, aligning with current interest in GLP-1 weight loss trends. It also includes information on more than 790,000 prescribing providers by NPI making it one of the most comprehensive GLP-1 analytics sources available today.
This real-world data can support a range of use cases:
HealthVerity enables pharmaceutical manufacturers to go beyond traditional claims analysis by delivering verified, linked insights into how GLP-1 drugs are being used across populations. To see more Marketplace data in action read our blog on the link between prostate cancer and mental health
The trend is especially sharp among young adults. GLP-1 prescriptions for those aged 18 to 39 increased 588%, from 0.19% in 2019 to 1.33% in 2024.1 During the same period, the rate of bariatric surgeries fell by nearly 42%, indicating a shift in how patients and physicians are managing obesity.
In the evolving landscape of GLP-1 trends, Ozempic (semaglutide) has garnered attention for its weight loss effects. While individual results vary, studies indicate that patients may experience an average weight loss of 5 to 10 pounds per month, especially after the initial dosing period. Factors influencing this include dosage, adherence to treatment, lifestyle modifications, and baseline body weight. These insights underscore the significance of GLP-1 receptor agonists in weight management strategies.
GLP-1 therapies like Ozempic and Wegovy showed promising weight loss outcomes in trials, but real-world usage is proving more complex. One study found patients who stopped taking the drugs early lost only 3.6% of their body weight. Those who remained on therapy for a full year lost about 12%, falling short of clinical trial averages of 15 to 20%². Side effects, cost, and insurance coverage were cited as key barriers to adherence.
Even as GLP-1 trends climb, most people diagnosed with overweight or obesity are not receiving prescriptions. In 2024, only 11.2% of patients with these diagnoses were prescribed a GLP-1 drug. Meanwhile, 6.3% received behavioral health services, and only 0.28% had bariatric surgery.1 This unmet need underscores the importance of accurate targeting and real-world insights.
The GLP-1 market is moving fast. Your strategy should too.
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