Recent research has shown that certain Southern states in the U.S., such as Kentucky, West Virginia, Mississippi, and Louisiana, have much higher prescription rates for GLP-1 agonist drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. These medications are used to treat diabetes and obesity. The data, sourced from PurpleLab and analyzed by Axios, indicates that Kentucky leads with about 21 prescriptions per 1,000 people, followed by West Virginia, Alaska, Mississippi, and Louisiana. On the other hand, states like Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, and Hawai’i have the lowest rates. Surprisingly, California also has a relatively low rate of 5.5 per 1,000 people, which might be due to the fact that the data doesn't include out-of-pocket prescriptions. Experts suggest that the high prescription rates in these Southern states are more likely due to higher rates of diabetes rather than obesity alone. Dan Gallagher, a Registered Dietitian, points out that insurance claims data, which doesn't cover GLP-1 drugs for weight loss, supports this assumption. Mike Breslin from ProMed DME adds that factors like higher rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes, as well as disparities in healthcare access and insurance coverage, could also play a role. The trend's positivity depends on whether it leads to better diabetes and weight management without causing financial strain. If it does, it's a positive development. However, if it reflects growing obesity and diabetes rates without improving health outcomes or if it strains finances due to limited insurance coverage, the trend is less favorable. Overall, the widespread adoption of GLP-1 drugs is a complex issue that requires consideration of patient outcomes, affordability, and equal access.