Journal Article

Medication use for patients with obesity: trends and characteristics for US employees

Good, Chester B, Brook, Richard A, Peasah, Samuel K, Beren, Ian A, Rosenberg, Eric M

2026

Overview

Obesity has a US prevalence of more than 40% and is associated with many comorbid conditions, posing a significant burden on employers. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are recently available and effective weight loss agents. We examined characteristics and outcomes of employees with obesity and those using vs not using GLP-1 RAs. Retrospective analysis of employee patients in Workpartners Research Reference Database from 2016 to 2023. Employees with obesity claims were identified and assigned to annual cohorts based on first year of obesity diagnosis (index). Study employees had at least 1 year of continuous data following their index diagnosis. Annual employee characteristics, comorbidities, absences, disability claims, and direct cost trends were explored for the year following diagnosis. Employees with obesity using and not using GLP-1 RAs were compared on the same metrics. Costs were inflation adjusted to December 2023 US$. We identified 127,408 employees with obesity. Obesity prevalence increased during the study. Employees with obesity and type 2 diabetes decreased slightly, and other comorbidities were relatively stable during the time frame. Overall, 5.8% of employees with obesity (n = 7359) used a GLP-1 RA. GLP-1 RA use increased annually (3.6% in 2016 to 18.3% in 2023) and accounted for approximately 30% of the cohort's 2023 pharmacy costs. During the 12-month study period, compared with non-GLP-1 RA users, those using GLP-1 RAs had higher Charlson Comorbidity Index scores (difference = 0.71), higher proportions with all study comorbidities, $11,360 higher direct all-category costs (total medical costs were $12,092 [19.4%] higher), and 0.86 more absence days. Prevalence of obesity is increasing, and use of GLP-1 RAs as the preferred antiobesity medication has increased as well. The long-term impact of this increased use warrants monitoring and management.

• Publisher: Intellisphere, LLC,MultiMedia Healthcare Inc
• Subject: Adult / Analysis / Anti-Obesity Agents - economics / Anti-Obesity Agents - therapeutic use / Comorbidity / Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - drug therapy / Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - epidemiology / Drug therapy / Employees / Employers / Female / GLP-1 receptor agonists / Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists / Health care expenditures / Humans / Liraglutide / Male / Medical research / Medicine, Experimental / Middle Aged / Obesity / Obesity - drug therapy / Obesity - economics / Obesity - epidemiology / Prevalence / Retrospective Studies / Type 2 diabetes / United States - epidemiology / Workers