A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals a concerning trend: the number of non-diabetic individuals being prescribed GLP-1 medications is on the rise, while new prescriptions for diabetic patients are decreasing. Researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center examined medical records from 45 million Americans who visited doctors between 2011 and 2023. They found that from 2019 to 2023, the proportion of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes dropped from nearly 90% to over 70%, whereas the share of new users without diabetes increased from 10% to 25%.
Yee Hui Yeo, one of the study’s authors, indicated that this shift suggests healthcare providers are increasingly recognizing the benefits of GLP-1 drugs for weight management, a development that could potentially lead to medication shortages and impact access for diabetic patients. Originally approved for treating type 2 diabetes, GLP-1 medications have gained popularity for their appetite suppression effects, with some users losing up to 26% of their body weight.
The demand has led companies like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly to struggle to keep up with production. Both companies have poured billions into increasing their manufacturing capabilities. Analysts at Morgan Stanley predict that the global market for GLP-1 drugs could reach $105 billion by 2030, with about 31.5 million individuals in the U.S., or roughly 9% of the population, utilizing these medications by 2035.