Americans Are Microdosing Obesity Drugs, Driven by 'Thin Is In' Marketing Blitz

Market Trends & Dynamics - Weight loss drugs originally intended for obese individuals are now marketed for general weight loss [2] - Off-label Ozempic prescriptions for non-obese, overweight, or diabetic individuals increased from 3% in 2018 to 30% in 2023 [2] - Off-label Wegovy prescriptions rose as high as 38% [3] - Telehealth companies are broadly marketing GLP-1 drugs, even to individuals wanting to lose a few pounds [3][7] Regulatory & Legal Landscape - The FDA has sent warning letters to telehealth companies regarding their marketing practices, but without significant legal action [9][10] - Pharmaceutical giants Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk have sued some telehealth firms for marketing compounded versions of their drugs [10] - Pharmaceutical companies face strict regulations on marketing claims, while telehealth companies have more leeway [6][7] - The industry is awaiting further action from the federal government regarding compounding and telehealth companies [11] Company Strategies & Competition - Shortages of weight loss shots from Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk allowed telehealth companies to emerge [5] - Now that shortages are resolved, there is tension between pharmaceutical giants and telehealth companies competing for market share [6] - Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk originally created the GLP-1 class of weight loss shots [4] Risks & Concerns - The risks of compounded versions of weight loss drugs are understudied [2][5] - Medical professionals are concerned that advertisements for these drugs are perpetuating diet culture issues [8] - Doctors do not recommend these drugs for individuals at a healthy weight due to unknown long-term effects [8] - Side effects of GLP-1 drugs can include extreme nausea, vomiting, and gastrointestinal issues [8]