Post-partum women driving surge in GLP-1 prescriptions for weight loss
One in ten U.S. adults now uses a GLP-1 drug, with new mothers showing the fastest growth in prescriptions since 2018.
Around 11% of U.S. adults are now on a GLP-1 medication, a steep increase over the past five years despite the drugs being on the market for decades. Women dominate the user base, comprising up to 70% of patients, and new mothers represent the fastest-growing segment, with many beginning treatment within six months of giving birth. The study tracked one million births and found that post-partum women with type 2 diabetes received the most new prescriptions, while those with gestational diabetes and pre-pregnancy obesity also saw notable upticks.
GLP-1s help users lose roughly 7-11% of their starting weight and may lower risks of depression, dementia, heart attack, cancer and substance abuse. Because the drugs are avoided during pregnancy, the post-partum period has become a key window for initiation, prompting calls for more research on effects during breastfeeding.
Why it matters
The trend shows a major shift in how weight-loss drugs are used, especially among new mothers, raising safety and public-health questions.
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