By

Megan Cerullo

Reporter, MoneyWatch

Megan Cerullo is a New York-based reporter for CBS MoneyWatch covering small business, workplace, health care, consumer spending and personal finance topics. She regularly appears on CBS News 24/7 to discuss her reporting.

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Updated on: October 22, 2026 / 9:06 PM EDT / CBS News

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More Americans are now taking GLP-1 drugs to shed some pounds than to treat diabetes and other health conditions for which the medications were originally prescribed, new research shows.

Roughly 54% of people taking semaglutide medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy do so to lose weight, overtaking the share of people who use them for other medical reasons, according to EY-Parthenon.

Meanwhile, as usage of GLP-1 drugs for weight management surpasses other medical uses, more consumers are changing how they eat and shop, the strategy consulting firm found in a survey of nearly 15,000 people, including 3,602 current or former GLP-1 users.

For example,…