GLP-1 medications, such as Ozempic, were originally intended to treat diabetes. However, their ability to induce weight loss has gained significant attention. Over the past decade, the number of people using these medications for weight loss has doubled, while their use for diabetes treatment has declined. A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine highlights these trends and the health conditions commonly faced by people taking GLP-1s. The study found that semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, accounted for 88% of new GLP-1 prescriptions in 2023. Researchers analyzed health records of about 45 million people from 2011 to 2023 and found that more than 870,000 had received a new GLP-1 prescription. The proportion of people using GLP-1s for diabetes treatment dropped from 70% (2015-2018) to 57% (2019-2023). The study also noted that the increasing use of GLP-1s for obesity could lead to drug shortages, potentially exacerbating racial and ethnic disparities in access to these medications. While the FDA lists some dosages of Wegovy as in shortage, Ozempic is currently readily available.