Popular weight-loss medications like Wegovy and Zepbound are driving increased healthcare usage in the U.S., leading to a rise in diagnoses and prescriptions for other conditions, according to a new analysis by health data firm Truveta.
The analysis, which examined thousands of electronic patient records from 2020 to 2024, revealed a significant increase in first-time diagnoses of conditions such as sleep apnea, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes just days after patients began taking a GLP-1 weight-loss drug.
These medications are encouraging individuals who previously avoided medical care to seek treatment. In collaboration with Truveta, Reuters interviewed several patients and doctors who noted that many overweight individuals seeking GLP-1 treatments had long been hesitant to visit a doctor or undergo routine tests due to stigma and bias. As a result, when these patients finally seek a GLP-1 prescription, they often receive diagnoses for other obesity-related conditions as well.
Truveta's research found that for every 1,000 patients starting a GLP-1 prescription in 2024, 42 were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes within 15 days, up from 32 in 2020. Similarly, the number of sleep apnea diagnoses per 1,000 patients rose from 8 to 11, and cardiovascular disease diagnoses increased from 13 to 15.
Medical device companies have also seen a boost in revenue, partly due to the growing use of GLP-1 drugs. ResMed, a maker of sleep apnea devices, reported an 11% revenue increase in its fiscal year ending in June. CEO Michael Farrell stated that GLP-1 drugs are “bringing people into primary care like never before.”
GLP-1 medications, including Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic and its sibling drug Wegovy, as well as Eli Lilly’s Zepbound, mimic a hormone that regulates appetite and blood sugar. These drugs have become highly popular for treating obesity and type 2 diabetes, contributing to Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly’s rise as the largest pharmaceutical companies globally.