Overview
- Use has become widespread, with about one in eight U.S. adults reporting GLP-1 use, and new oral semaglutide (Wegovy) is expected to expand access after its late‑December approval.
- Prescription spending on brand GLP-1s jumped from $13.7 billion in 2018 to $71.7 billion in 2023, and large employers report these drugs are a major driver of health‑care cost growth.
- Affordability battles intensified last week as the Trump administration launched the TrumpRx discount portal and Hims & Hers promoted a $49 compounded option, which Novo Nordisk labeled “illegal mass compounding” and said it would challenge.
- Fast-food and fast‑casual chains are recasting menus for smaller, protein‑forward orders, with moves like Chipotle’s protein cup, Smoothie King’s GLP‑1 Support menu, and Shake Shack’s Good Fit items, while diners favor flexible portions.
- Evidence shows substantial weight regain after stopping therapy (e.g., STEP 4), prompting guidance to use the lowest effective maintenance dose, emphasize protein and resistance training, monitor bone and lean mass, and screen for eating‑disorder risks.