GLP-1 use reshapes healthcare

GLP-1 medications are profoundly reshaping healthcare, according to a new report from Wells Fargo. GLP-1 use increased to 15% of U.S. adults while rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes declined over the past two years, according to the latest Gallup poll. FAIR Health found that GLP-1 prescriptions increased 587% from 2019 to 2024, while bariatric surgery volumes declined by 34% just between 2022 and 2024, according to estimates from the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. As GLP-1 use reshapes how patients manage weight and chronic conditions, consumer preferences will increasingly drive care delivery models. Demand may continue to shift volumes from procedure-driven services like bariatric surgery toward medication management and nutrition support, requiring hospitals to revisit service line strategies.