GLP-1 Statistics for 2026: Prescriptions, Outcomes, and Market Data
US GLP-1 prescription numbers
| Year | US adults on GLP 1 | YoY growth | Top brands |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | ~1.2M | +18% | Ozempic, Trulicity, Saxenda |
| 2021 | ~1.9M | +58% | Ozempic, Wegovy (launched June) |
| 2022 | ~3.1M | +63% | Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro (launched May) |
| 2023 | ~5.0M | +61% | Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound (launched Nov) |
| 2024 | ~7.0M | +40% | All 4 brands, plus compounded variants |
| 2025 | ~9.5M | +36% | All 4 brands, compounded variants drop after FDA action |
| 2026 (projected) | ~12M | +26% | Mounjaro and Zepbound (tirzepatide) gaining share |
| 2028 (projected) | ~17M | +18% CAGR 2026-2028 | Pipeline includes oral semaglutide and triple agonists |
Approximately 1 in every 28 US adults was on a GLP-1 medication at the end of 2025. Projected 1 in 22 by end of 2026.
Weight loss outcomes from clinical trials
| Medication / Trial | Dose | Duration | Average weight loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wegovy / STEP 1 (NEJM 2021) | 2.4 mg weekly | 68 weeks | 14.9% body weight |
| Wegovy / STEP 4 (JAMA 2021) | 2.4 mg weekly | 68 weeks (with stop at wk 20) | 17.4% continued vs 5.0% regain after stopping |
| Ozempic / SUSTAIN 7 (Lancet 2018) | 1.0 mg weekly | 40 weeks | 6.5 kg average |
| Zepbound / SURMOUNT 1 (NEJM 2022) | 15 mg weekly | 72 weeks | 20.9% body weight |
| Zepbound / SURMOUNT 1 10 mg arm | 10 mg weekly | 72 weeks | 19.5% body weight |
| Mounjaro / SURPASS 3 (Lancet 2021) | 15 mg weekly | 52 weeks (T2D patients) | 12.9 kg average |
Tirzepatide (Mounjaro and Zepbound) produces larger average weight loss than semaglutide (Ozempic and Wegovy) in head to head data and similarly dosed populations. Both classes produce 2x to 4x the weight loss of older GLP 1s like liraglutide (Saxenda).
Reported side effect rates from clinical trials
| Side effect | Wegovy 2.4 mg (STEP 1) | Zepbound 15 mg (SURMOUNT 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Nausea | 44.2% | 39.0% |
| Diarrhea | 31.5% | 23.0% |
| Vomiting | 24.8% | 15.9% |
| Constipation | 23.4% | 17.1% |
| Discontinuation due to side effects | 7.0% | 6.2% |
Nausea is the most commonly reported side effect for both drug classes and is the primary driver of food choice changes on GLP-1 medications.
Manufacturer revenue from GLP-1 medications
| Year | Novo Nordisk GLP-1 revenue | Eli Lilly GLP-1 revenue | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $9.5B | ~$0.5B (pre-Mounjaro) | $10.0B |
| 2022 | $16.4B | $483M (Mounjaro launched May) | $16.9B |
| 2023 | $24.0B | $5.2B | $29.2B |
| 2024 | $31.6B | $20.0B | $51.6B |
Combined GLP-1 revenue from the two major manufacturers grew from $10B in 2021 to over $50B in 2024. a 5x increase in 3 years. Eli Lilly’s tirzepatide brands (Mounjaro + Zepbound) grew from $483M to $20B in 2 years, the fastest pharmaceutical ramp in modern memory.
Demographics of US GLP-1 users
- Gender: 64 percent female, 36 percent male (KFF 2024 survey).
- Age: 53 percent ages 35-54; 28 percent ages 55-64; 11 percent 65+; 8 percent under 35.
- Indication split: 53 percent prescribed for weight management, 39 percent for Type 2 diabetes, 8 percent for cardiovascular indications (Wegovy 2024 expansion).
- Insurance coverage: 41 percent of weight management users pay full or near-full out of pocket. 73 percent of T2D users have coverage.
- Average monthly cost (uninsured): $1,000-$1,400 for Ozempic, $1,300-$1,800 for Wegovy, $1,000-$1,200 for Mounjaro, $1,000-$1,300 for Zepbound.
- Discontinuation: About 30 percent of users discontinue within 1 year. Top reasons: cost (37%), side effects (28%), reached goal weight (18%), insurance change (12%), other (5%).
Impact on food and meal delivery industry
- Average protein per meal on top meal delivery services increased from 26 grams (2022) to 41 grams (May 2026) across Factor, Trifecta, CookUnity, BistroMD, and Snap Kitchen.
- Average meal volume shrunk by 12 percent in the same period. Smaller plates fit reduced GLP-1 appetite.
- Snack food sales for major manufacturers (Frito Lay, Mondelez, Kellogg) declined 1.5 to 3.2 percent in 2024, partly attributed to GLP-1 effects on appetite.
- Restaurant traffic at quick service brands dropped 4 to 6 percent in metro areas with high GLP-1 adoption (Q4 2024 OpenTable and YipitData reports).
- Meal delivery services with GLP-1 specific menus grew 30 to 50 percent YoY in 2024-2025 (Factor Protein Plus, Trifecta clean, Splendid Spoon, BistroMD).
Sources and methodology
Prescription numbers from IQVIA (US drug utilization reports 2020-2024), Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly quarterly earnings calls. Clinical trial data from peer reviewed publications: STEP 1 (Wilding et al, NEJM 2021), STEP 4 (Rubino et al, JAMA 2021), SUSTAIN 7 (Pratley et al, Lancet 2018), SURMOUNT 1 (Jastreboff et al, NEJM 2022), SURPASS 3 (Ludvik et al, Lancet 2021). Side effect rates from FDA prescribing information for Wegovy and Zepbound. Demographics from KFF Health Tracking Poll 2024 and Trilliant Health 2024 GLP-1 report. Industry impact data from OpenTable, YipitData, and major CPG company quarterly reports. Pricing snapshot from manufacturer websites and GoodRx pricing data May 2026.
How to cite this page
For journalists, researchers, and writers: cite as “MealFan, GLP-1 Statistics 2026, May 2026” with a link back to this page. All data tables are free to embed with attribution.
Related guides
- Best GLP 1 meal delivery services: ranked roundup based on this market data.
- What to eat on Ozempic: practical food guide.
- Ozempic foods to avoid: what worsens side effects.
- Meal Delivery Statistics 2026: broader industry data.