Many Americans Use GLP-1 Drugs Without a Medical Reason, Study Shows

A new study suggests a large share of Americans taking GLP-1 drugs—such as Ozempic—may be doing so without a medical reason. Researchers analyzed medical records for more than 92 million U.S. adults and found over 1.1 million people taking GLP-1 medications without documentation of conditions that typically qualify them, such as obesity or diabetes. The analysis, published Tuesday in Obesity, doesn’t explain why people use the drugs, but doctors quoted in the report said many may be using them for weight loss or to chase other potential benefits. The drugs have specific FDA approvals, while off-label use rose 15-fold from 2021 to 2025.