Ozempic and other kinds of GLP-1 medications have skyrocketed in popularity in recent years, but the likelihood of you or your neighbor being on the weight loss drugs could vary significantly based on where you live.
In a recent report from weight loss management platform Levity, cities were ranked by Google search trends for the medications based on how interested residents were in the drugs.
Why It Matters
The use of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists has surged, and popular products like Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy and Zephound have been a game changer for many Americans who are obese or have type 2 diabetes.
While the drugs have been linked to successful short term weight loss, they also have a large number of side effects, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and even stomach paralysis in rare cases.
What To Know
According to Levity’s report, regional hot spots for Ozempic and other GLP-1 drugs included Orlando, Florida; Miami; Atlanta; St. Louis; and Cleveland.
Also in the top 10 based on GLP-1 related searches were Minneapolis; Las Vegas; Pittsburgh; Cincinnati; and Tampa, Florida.
Orlando had the top spot at 89,620 searches per 100,000 residents, but all of the top 10 cities had 48,000 searches per 100,000 residents or more.
Google search volume for GLP-1 drugs generally increased by 9.5 percent over the past year among the 100 largest U.S. cities. Across the board, 13 percent of survey respondents reported trying a GLP-1 medication, with Gen Z the most likely at 17 percent
The report, which surveyed roughly 1,000 Americans, also found roughly one in five Americans said GLP-1s have influenced their view of what a “normal” or “healthy” body looks like.
There was still significant pushback to the drugs amongst survey respondents, with 73 percent of Americans saying GLP-1s are a shortcut to weight loss. Meanwhile, 52 percent said they are a temporary fix.
What People Are Saying
Hamilton Noel, Pattern data scientist, previously told Newsweek: “The continued massive demand for these weight loss drugs we’re seeing speaks to the desperation consumers are experiencing. With these intermittent shortages, folks are continually checking places like Amazon despite reports of tricky side effects. We expect the drugs to continue growing in popularity despite those supply chain issues.”
Tom Holland, an exercise physiologist and weight-loss expert and author of Beat the Gym & The Micro Workout Plan, previously told Newsweek: “Unfortunately the human condition is such that, when it comes to diet and exercise, we are constantly seeking the quickest fix with the least amount of effort, regardless of the costs, both monetarily as well as physically.”
What Happens Next
While obesity levels are likely to decline in the short term due to GLP-1 use, the long-term implications of GLP-1 medication use are so far unclear.
A recent study discovered a new link between taking GLP-1 drugs and elevated risk of pancreatitis and kidney conditions, including kidney stones.
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