by A recent study conducted by Michigan Medicine has revealed that the utilization of weight loss drugs such as Wegovy and Ozempic among adolescents and young adults in the United States is experiencing a significant surge. However, comprehensive data on prescription patterns in this demographic has been limited.
The research team, led by Dr. Joyce Lee, a pediatric endocrinologist and Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Michigan Medical School, analyzed data from a national database that covers approximately 92% of pharmacies across the country. The study discovered a staggering 594% increase in the monthly number of prescriptions filled for Wegovy, Ozempic, and other GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) among adolescents and young adults aged 12-25 years.
Females were found to be the primary drivers of this trend. The number of female adolescents aged 12-17 years using Glucagon Like Peptide 1 Analogs increased by 588%, while male adolescents experienced a 504% increase. Among young adults aged 18-25 years, the number of females using GLP-1RAs jumped by 659%, compared to a 481% increase for males.
This study marks the first time national trends in GLP-1RA dispensing have been documented in any population, including youth. GLP-1RAs were initially approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in 2005 and for weight management in 2014.
