Use of weight-loss drugs soaring

one in eight Us adults has tried medications from the fastgrowing class of new diabetes and obesity drugs that includes ozempic and zepbound, underscoring how quickly the treatments have gained popularity.

of those who’ve tried the drugs, about half are currently still taking them, according to a poll from health research organization kFF released Friday. if the kFF survey’s results reflect the total Us adult population, it would mean that roughly 30 million americans have tried the medications.

Drugs including eli lilly’s mounjaro and zepbound and novo nordisk’s ozempic and wegovy are deepening their reach into the Us population, where rates of diabetes and obesity have escalated for decades. Yet cost remains a barrier: more than half of respondents who tried the medications said they’re difficult to afford, even with coupons and insurance coverage.

a monthly supply of ozempic costs almost $1,000 before discounts or rebates. more than half of people on the drugs with health insurance said insurance covered part of the cost, while a quarter said insurance paid in full, according to the kFF poll. The nonprofit routinely polls americans on health topics.

The medications known as glp-1s were originally developed to treat diabetes but also helped people taking them lose weight. more recently, some have been approved explicitly to treat obesity. Drugmakers are expediting research into how they might address other health conditions including alzheimer’s and sleep apnea to broaden use and win insurance coverage.