Celebrities are typically at the forefront of diet trends, and recently some have turned to diabetes drugs to shed unwanted pounds. This trend has not gone unnoticed by the public. Because obesity is a chronic condition that has become a major health issue in the United States, with more than 42% of American adults considered obese and another 31% overweight, the demand for diabetes drugs to treat weight loss is at an all time high.

Employers, who are faced with high costs in treating obesity-related chronic conditions such as hypertension and heart disease, are taking notice of these drugs as well. Studies from 2022 show that overweight employees miss more days of work and have almost twice as many workers' compensation claims than those who are of average weight.

All of this has created a dilemma for employers. How do they control costs and still provide the best possible health care coverage that gives members access to these medications?