America’s obesity crisis meets the Ozempic boom as data reveals GLP-1 hot spots

With caller agreements from President Donald Trump promising little prices connected fashionable weight-loss drugs, the usage of GLP-1 medications specified arsenic Ozempic and Mounjaro could soon surge adjacent higher — a inclination already spreading unevenly crossed the U.S., with immoderate states seeing greater uptick than others.

Based connected security claims information from Purple Lab, a Pennsylvania wellness analytics company, a 2024 study published by GLP-1 Newsroom broke down the estimated fig of weight-loss and diabetes cause prescriptions per state.

The medicine records came from some commercialized and authorities insurers, and they don’t see radical who paid cash, utilized telehealth providers, utilized compounded versions oregon were uninsured — which means the existent numbers are apt higher.

WHY MICRODOSING OZEMPIC COULD BECOME AS COMMON AS TAKING A MULTIVITAMIN

The study identified the pursuing states wherever much than 15% of the state’s colonisation received GLP-1 prescriptions for value nonaccomplishment oregon diabetes control. 

A study identified the pursuing states wherever much than 15% of the state’s colonisation received GLP-1 prescriptions for value nonaccomplishment oregon diabetes control.  (iStock)

Take a look astatine the database below.

• West Virginia - 24%
• Kentucky - 22%
• Louisiana - 20%
• Oklahoma - 20%
• Alabama - 19%
• Mississippi - 19%
• North Dakota - 18%
• Alaska - 17%
• Arkansas - 17%
• Pennsylvania - 17%
• Iowa - 16.5%
• Michigan - 16%
• Ohio - 14.5%
• Georgia - 15%
• Kansas - 15%
• Tennessee - 15%
• Texas - 15%

WEIGHT-LOSS DOCTOR SHARES HOW GLP-1S COULD REWIRE BODY AGAINST DISEASE

The highest GLP-1 usage rates were concentrated successful the South, Midwest and Appalachia, apt owed to their higher obesity and diabetes rates.

The study besides identified these lowest-usage states, mostly successful coastal and occidental regions. Hawaii had the lowest wide prescriptions.

The highest GLP-1 usage rates were concentrated successful the South, Midwest and Appalachia, apt owed to their higher obesity and diabetes rates. (iStock)

See the database below.

• Florida – 10%
• Maryland – 10%
• Wisconsin – 10%
• Washington – 9%
• California – 9.5%
• Nevada – 8%
• Oregon – 8%
• Arizona – 8%
• Colorado – 8%
• Utah – 8%
• Rhode Island – 7.5%
• Hawaii – 5%

COULD GLP-1 WEIGHT-LOSS MEDICATIONS LIKE OZEMPIC BECOME THE 'EVERYTHING DRUG'?

Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida neurologist and longevity adept who often prescribes GLP-1 medications to his patients, takes a regular microdose each time to beforehand bosom health.

"These agents are chiefly prescribed for benignant 2 diabetes, but the tides are turning — and soon, successful my humble opinion, they volition beryllium utilized much to dainty obesity (or categorically ‘overweight’ individuals), absent diabetes, though determination is typically a precocious grade of crossover betwixt the 2 conditions," Osborn told Fox News Digital.

"My conjecture is that these medications are being prescribed much truthful successful states specified arsenic Kentucky, West Virginia and different Midwestern states wherever obesity and diabetes are rampant," a longevity doc said. (iStock)

The doc besides predicts that GLP-1s volition soon beryllium utilized to dainty oregon forestall vascular disease, temper drinking, code gambling addiction, dilatory cognitive diminution and apt arsenic a complement to chemotherapy crab treatments.

"Prescribing practices and indications are expanding rapidly, and therefore, we indispensable beryllium cautious astir our conclusions," Osborn said. "That said, my conjecture is that these medications are being prescribed much truthful successful states specified arsenic Kentucky, West Virginia and different Midwestern states wherever obesity and diabetes are rampant."

Obesity rates by state

The Trust for America’s Health precocious released its State of Obesity report, which is based connected 2024 information from the CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

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The study lists the pursuing 10 U.S. states arsenic having the highest big obesity rates, each of which are located successful the South oregon Midwest. 

In 9 of the 10 states, astatine slightest 15% of the colonisation person GLP-1 prescriptions, according to security claims data.

Previous studies person shown that GLP-1 drugs tin trim intoxicant intake and cravings. (iStock)

• West Virginia - 41.4%
• Mississippi - 40.4%
• Louisiana 39.2%
• Alabama - 38.7%
• Arkansas - 38.4 %
• Oklahoma - 37.9 %
• Kentucky - 37.7 %
• Tennessee - 37.2 %
• Indiana - 36.9 %
• Texas - 36.8 %

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Overall, 19 states had big obesity rates of astatine slightest 35%, compared with 23 states the erstwhile year.

This was besides the archetypal clip that nary authorities had an big obesity complaint beneath 25%, according to the report.

Overall, 19 states had big obesity rates of astatine slightest 35%, compared with 23 states the erstwhile year, according to a caller report. (iStock)

Below are the states with the lowest rates of obesity, according to the report.

• District of Columbia - 25.5%
• Colorado - 25%
• Hawaii - 27%
• Massachusetts - 27%
• California - 27.6%
• Florida - 28%
• New Jersey - 28.2%
• Washington - 28.8%
• Vermont - 29%
• New York - 29.1%

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"Structural barriers to steadfast eating and carnal enactment request continued argumentation attraction and investment," said J. Nadine Gracia, M.D., president and CEO of Trust for America’s Health, successful a statement.

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"It is captious that authorities and different sectors put successful – not chopped – proven programs that enactment bully nutrition and carnal enactment and guarantee they scope each communities."

Fox News Digital reached retired to GLP-1 manufacturers requesting comment.