Ozempic and Wegovy exploded in popularity in recent years as weight-loss drugs. Ozempic is typically prescribed to adults for diabetes management, while Wegovy is an FDA-approved prescription for weight loss. Celebrities like Tracy Morgan and Oprah Winfrey have spoken about using drugs like these for weight management; actress Christina Applegate even recently made a joke about Ozempic at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards on Jan. 15.
New data from PurpleLab HealthNexus paints a clearer picture of where Ozempic and Wegovy use for weight loss is highest across the country. After examining 1.9 billion claims from private insurers as well as Medicare and Medicaid, Kentucky came out on top, with roughly 21 out of every 1,000 residents being prescribed drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy.
West Virginia comes in second place with approximately 19 prescriptions per 1,000, while Alaska sits in third at 18 per 1,000. The Last Frontier stands as an outlier in the top five, which consists almost entirely of Southern and Appalachian states; Mississippi has roughly 16 people prescribed these drugs for every 1,000, and Louisiana has approximately 15.
The south has some of the highest prevalence of obesity in the country at 35.6 percent, and the data from these states correlates; Kentucky and Mississippi sit between 35 and 45 percent prevalence of obesity amongst adults, while West Virginia and Louisiana were between 45 and 50 percent. As far as diabetes goes, Kentucky has a mortality rate tied to the condition of 32.5 percent, while West Virginia’s is 47.6 percent, Alaska is 27 percent, Louisiana is 35.7 percent, and Mississippi at 42.1 percent.
As always, consult a healthcare professional first if you’re interested in getting on any of these drugs.