What Ozempic is actually doing to obesity rates in the US

Ozempic and its ilk are inescapable.

While those on the weight loss drug often face more judgment and stigma, it’s undeniable that the medications have had an effect on many people’s health.

As GLP-1 medications continue to evolve and become more popular, they’re having both a major moment and impact in the health landscape.

Drugs like Ozempic show no signs of slowing down, as the number of Americans using the drugs to slim down has more than doubled over the past year and a half

And as prescriptions for the blockbuster GLP-1 drug have risen, obesity rates are falling throughout the population.

Health analytics organization EPIC Research released two new data trackers that show semaglutide — the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy — has had a modest but sustained decrease in the obesity rate.

Looking at millions of patient records from hospitals across the country, EPIC was able to track how many people were prescribed GLP-1s, along with their body mass index, on a quarterly basis.

A clear pattern emerged.

Between the second quarter of 2021 and the first quarter of 2026, GLP-1 prescriptions increased more than four times to 8,819 prescriptions per 100,000 patients.

Meanwhile, the percentage of those with obesity in the same period had a modest but still notable decline, dropping from 42.3% to 40.7%.

And the number of adults with obesity who had previously taken a weight loss drug before the time period dropped from 75% to 69%.

While it’s too early to tell how much of an impact GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic will have on obesity rates, the results are a promising indicator.

The CDC had previously estimated in 2023 that 40% of Americans had a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher — the classification for being obese.

Future obesity rates will depend on a number of factors, including several related to the use of weight loss medications.

Only about 12% of Americans are currently taking a GLP-1, and many people stop taking them for several reasons, including side effects, lack of health insurance coverage or high cost.

However, discontinuation of the drugs can lead to weight regain, as well as an increased risk of chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular disease.

While Ozempic often comes with a hefty price tag, countries around the world, including India, China, Brazil and Turkey, could be getting generic versions for as cheap as $15 a month.

But it will be years before cheaper generic semaglutide hits the US markets due to pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk’s patent lasting until 2032.