HealthVerity Blog

The GLP-1 surge: What the real-world data reveals

Written by HealthVerity | Jun 16, 2025 9:25:22 PM

Ozempic and Semaglutide drive a 587% spike in GLP-1 prescriptions

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.

HealthVerity Marketplace tracks 19.1 million GLP-1 patients and 790,000 providers

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. 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:

  • Post-market surveillance: Monitor side effects, switching behavior, and persistence over time across diverse patient populations.

  • Health economics and outcomes research (HEOR): Evaluate cost-effectiveness, resource utilization, and outcomes compared to other interventions like bariatric surgery.

  • Provider and prescriber insights: Identify prescribing patterns, top prescribers, and geographic variation in clinical decision-making.

  • Patient journey analysis: Map the timeline from diagnosis to treatment to assess how real-world behavior compares with clinical guidelines.

  • Targeted education and outreach: Inform provider engagement strategies with de-identified real-world data on therapeutic adoption and usage trends.

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

Younger adults are driving GLP-1 demand while bariatric surgery declines

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 2024¹. During the same period, the rate of bariatric surgeries fell by nearly 42%, indicating a shift in how patients and physicians are managing obesity.

Why GLP-1 success in the real world looks different than in trials

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.

Most eligible patients still aren't receiving GLP-1 medications

Even as GLP-1 use climbs, 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 surgery¹. This unmet need underscores the importance of accurate targeting and real-world insights.


The GLP-1 market is moving fast. Your strategy should too.
Explore how HealthVerity Marketplace can help you measure outcomes, identify safety signals, and define patient journeys in real time.

References

  1. FAIR Health. Use of GLP-1 Drugs to Treat Overweight or Obesity Increased 587 Percent from 2019 to 2024, According to New FAIR Health Study. May 27, 2025. Accessed June 11, 2025. https://www.fairhealth.org/press-release/use-of-glp-1-drugs-to-treat-overweight-or-obesity-increased-587-percent-from-2019-to-2024-according-to-new-fair-health-study
  2. Reuters. Health Rounds: Patients drop fewer pounds with weight-loss drugs in real world than in trials. June 11, 2025. Accessed June 11, 2025. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/health-rounds-patients-drop-fewer-pounds-with-weight-loss-drugs-real-world-than-2025-06-11/