More people now take GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy to lose weight than for diabetes, survey finds

About 54% of people taking semaglutide drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy now use them to lose weight, more than for any other medical reason, according to a survey by consulting firm EY-Parthenon, CBS News reported on 22 October. The drugs were first approved to treat type 2 diabetes.

The survey covered nearly 15,000 people in the US, including 3,602 current or former GLP-1 users.

How users are changing what they buy

Users also drink less alcohol. Food makers and shops are giving more shelf space to high-protein products and smaller portions. "Everyone accepts that this is a structural change that's not going away," said Don Johnson of EY-Parthenon.

Why use has spread

GLP-1 drugs now come in more forms, including a pill, and are cheaper in the US after a deal between the Trump administration and makers Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk cut Ozempic and Wegovy prices to $150 to $350 a month from about $1,000. That has brought in younger, lower-income and male users. Researchers at the Wharton School are now studying whether the drugs, which act on the brain's reward system, also curb impulse spending and gambling.

What it means in Pakistan

At the US range of $150 to $350, a month's supply works out to roughly Rs 41,500 to Rs 97,000 at today's rate (see the dollar rate and our currency converter). Semaglutide is a prescription medicine: in Pakistan it should only be taken under a doctor's care, with a prescription filled by a licensed pharmacy. Pens sold online or by unregulated sellers may be fake or badly stored, so buy only against a prescription.

Side effects commonly include nausea, vomiting and constipation, and weight tends to return when the drug is stopped without changes to diet and exercise. Anyone with diabetes should not switch or stop their medicine without talking to their doctor.