Fewer than 3% of eligible Americans with obesity are prescribed GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide or tirzepatide, despite their proven benefits. A new analysis of 39 million adults without type 2 diabetes reveals stark disparities in who receives these medications—disparities that fall sharply along racial, socioeconomic, and geographic lines.
Non-Hispanic white patients were the most likely to be prescribed a GLP-1 drug at 2.4%, while non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic Asian patients had lower rates at 2.3%, 1.8%, and 1.7%, respectively. People living in the most socially vulnerable areas—those facing poverty, poor housing, and limited healthcare access—were also less likely to receive prescriptions (1.9%) compared to those in more stable environments (2.6%). Rural residents fared even worse, with only 1.5% receiving the drugs, compared to 2.4% in urban areas.
Senior author Yuan Lu, ScD, emphasized that “we clearly identify some groups that are left behind.” These disparities, she noted, are not due to drug shortages but likely stem from systemic and patient-level barriers, including insurance coverage and affordability.
Men were also significantly less likely to be prescribed these medications than women, with only 1.2% receiving them compared to 3.0% of women.
The study’s authors stress the importance of tracking these trends and developing strategies to ensure equitable access as the healthcare landscape evolves.
See: “Access to GLP-1 Drugs Unequal for US Patients With Obesity” (May 15, 2025)