The Fattest States in America Revealed and How Ozempic is Changing the Map

With President Donald Trump’s new deals promising lower prices on popular weight-loss drugs, use of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro could soon rise even further, a trend that is already spreading unevenly across the U.S., with some states seeing a bigger increase than others.

Based on insurance claims data from Purple Lab, a Pennsylvania health analytics company, a 2024 report published by GLP-1 Newsroom broke down the estimated number of diabetes and weight loss drug prescriptions by state.

The prescription records come from commercial and government insurers, and do not include people who paid cash, used telehealth providers, used compounded versions or were uninsured, meaning the real numbers are likely higher.

WHY MICRODOSE OF OZEMPIC MIGHT BE AS COMMON AS TAKING A MULTIVITAMIN

The report identified the following states where more than 15% of the state population received prescriptions for GLP-1 for weight loss or diabetes management.

Take a look at the list below.

• West Virginia: 24%
• Kentucky – 22%
• Louisiana – 20%
• Olola Olahoma and 20%
• Alabama – 19%
• Mississippi – 19%
• North Dakota – 18%
• Alaska – 17%
• Arkansas – 17%
• Pennsylvania – 17%
• Iowa-16.5%
• Michigan – 16%
• Ohio-14.5%
• Georgia – 15%
• Kansas – 15%
• Tennessee – 15%
• Shingles – 15%

WEIGHT LOSS DOCTOR SHARES HOW GLP-1S COULD REWIRE THE BODY AGAINST DISEASES

The highest rates of GLP-1 use were concentrated in the South, Midwest, and Appalachia, likely due to their higher rates of obesity and diabetes.

The report also identified these states with lower usage, primarily in the coastal and western regions. Hawaii had the lowest overall prescriptions.

See the list below.

• Florida – 10%
• Maryland – 10%
• Wisconsin – 10%
• Washington – 9%
• California – 9.5%
• Nevada – 8%
• Oregon – 8%
• Arizona – 8%
• Colorado – 8%
• Utah – 8%
• Rhode Island: 7.5%
• Hawaii – 5%

COULD GLP-1 WEIGHT LOSS MEDICATIONS LIKE OZEMPIC BECOME THE ‘EVERYTHING DRUG’?

Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida neurologist and longevity expert who often prescribes GLP-1 medications to his patients, takes a daily microdose every day to promote heart health.

“These agents are primarily prescribed for type 2 diabetes, but the trend is changing, and soon, IMHO, they will be used more to treat obesity (or people who are categorically ‘overweight’), without diabetes, although there is generally a high degree of crossover between the two conditions,” Osborn told News Digital.

The doctor also predicts that GLP-1 will soon be used to treat or prevent vascular diseases, moderate alcohol consumption, address gambling addiction, slow cognitive decline and probably as an adjunct to cancer chemotherapy treatments.

“Prescribing practices and indications are expanding rapidly, and therefore we must be careful with our conclusions,” Osborn said. “That said, I assume these medications are prescribed more in states like Kentucky, West Virginia, and other Midwestern states where obesity and diabetes are widespread.”

Obesity rates by state

The Trust for America’s Health recently released its State of Obesity report, which is based on 2024 data from the CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE News APP

The report lists the next 10 U.S. states with the highest rates of adult obesity, all of which are located in the South or Midwest.

In nine of the 10 states, at least 15% of the population has prescriptions for GLP-1, according to insurance claims data.

• West Virginia: 41.4%
• Mississippi: 40.4%
• Louisiana 39.2%
• Alabama: 38.7%
• Arkansas – 38.4%
• OH! 37.9%
• Kentucky – 37.7%
• Tennessee – 37.2%
• Indiana – 36.9%
• Texas – 36.8%

CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

Overall, 19 states had adult obesity rates of at least 35%, compared to 23 states the previous year.

This was also the first time that no state had an adult obesity rate below 25%, according to the report.

Below are the states with the lowest obesity rates, according to the report.

• District of Columbia: 25.5%
• Colorado – 25%
• Hawaii – 27%
• Massachusetts – 27%
• California – 27.6%
• Florida – 28%
• New Jersey: 28.2%
• Washington – 28.8%
• Vermont – 29%
• New York – 29.1%

TRY OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

“Structural barriers to healthy eating and physical activity need continued policy attention and investment,” said J. Nadine Gracia, MD, president and CEO of Trust for America’s Health, in a statement.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES

“It is vital that government and other sectors invest in (not cut) proven programs that support good nutrition and physical activity and ensure they reach all communities.”

News Digital has contacted the manufacturers of LPG-1 for comment.