GLP-1 prescriptions for new mothers have increased sharply
More U.S. women are being prescribed GLP-1 medications after giving birth, particularly those diagnosed with diabetes, according to new research from the USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics.
New mothers in the United States are being prescribed GLP-1 medications, including Ozempic and Zepbound, at an unprecedented rate following birth, according to research from the USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics. The study, published in JAMA, reveals a 24-fold increase in new prescriptions for these diabetes and weight-loss drugs among postpartum women over a seven-year period.
The surge was particularly notable among women diagnosed with diabetes, with the rate of GLP-1 prescriptions for this group rising from 2.3% in 2021 to 16.9% by 2025. Gestational diabetes, which develops during pregnancy, also saw a substantial increase in GLP-1 prescription rates, from 0.4% in mid-2021 to 2.7% in the first quarter of 2025.
Overweight and obese women before pregnancy accounted for the fastest growth in GLP-1 prescriptions since late 2024, making up 40% of new users by the second half of 2024. Despite the significant rise in postpartum GLP-1 usage, the study highlights the need for further research on the safety of these medications during breastfeeding.
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