The report outlined three key insights from the study:

• GLP-1s drive a historic shift in traditional drug spending increases. Consumer adoption has surged, with nearly one-third of commercially insured households reporting that they or a household member has used GLP-1s. The primary reason for use was weight loss, with 58% of respondents using GLP-1s personally and 51% reporting use by a household member. Claims data also show rapid adoption of GLP-1 for weight loss, with a steady increase in utilization since 2021 and peaking at 213.8% in 2023.
• GLP-1s face dual challenges of rapid uptake and high discontinuation rates, raising questions about long-term value. Although GLP-1 usage has surged, many individuals discontinue treatment prematurely. Previous analysis indicated that more than 50% of patients using GLP-1s for weight loss stopped treatment within 12 months. This high discontinuation rate significantly affects clinical outcomes and long-term drug-utilization trends.
• Surging GLP-1 use among young people amplifies sustainability and supply concerns. Early adoption of costly treatment can create an unsustainable burden on health plans, employers and communities because of potential lifelong reliance and the related comorbidities of these costly treatments. Employers and health plans should consider a balanced approach that prioritizes lifestyle interventions, such as increasing physical activity, improving diet and reducing screen time, along with community- and system-level initiatives. These could help reverse this trend and possibly eliminate the need for medications.

Looking ahead, GLP-1 therapies will continue expanding beyond obesity and diabetes treatment to other chronic conditions, accelerating their widespread adoption, the report said. Although these advancements offer transformative potential in addressing the chronic disease epidemic, they also bring significant challenges raising critical questions about affordability, accessibility and long-term sustainability.

“These drugs offer significant benefits for chronic conditions like diabetes and obesity, but their increasing popularity raises critical issues,” said Urvashi Patel, Ph.D., vice president of the Evernorth Research Institute. “Together, we can drive health and vitality forward and shape a better future.”