Use of GLP-1 receptor agonists — including drugs such as Wegovy, Ozempic, Mounjaro and Zepbound — continues to reshape treatment patterns for obesity, diabetes and beyond. Several March studies and surveys highlight how these medications are shifting patient behavior, influencing surgical volumes, and raising new clinical and access considerations.
Here are four notable GLP-1 developments:
1. Surgery down, prescriptions up
A JAMA Surgery study published March 4 found that GLP-1 prescriptions surged from 0.22% in 2018 to 24.17% by the third quarter of 2025. During the same period, bariatric surgery rates fell 46.4% — from 0.17% to 0.09% — among eligible adults. The data, drawn from nearly 32 million records in the Epic Cosmos database, suggest a growing patient preference for pharmacologic weight management.
2. Linked to lower substance use risk
In a BMJ study published March 4, GLP-1 use was associated with reduced risk for multiple substance use disorders, including alcohol, opioids and nicotine. The research, based on data from more than 600,000 veterans, also showed fewer overdoses, emergency visits and deaths among users with preexisting substance use disorders compared to those on other diabetes drugs.
3. Stopping increases cardiovascular risk
Discontinuing GLP-1 treatment may carry cardiovascular consequences, according to a March 18 BMJ Medicine study. Among 333,000 U.S. veterans with Type 2 diabetes, those who stopped GLP-1s saw up to a 22% higher risk of heart attack, stroke or death. Researchers noted that the cardiometabolic benefits diminished sharply after interruptions — a potential concern given rising demand and reported shortages.
4. Cost not top barrier to use
A March 17 Axios-Ipsos poll of 1,225 U.S. adults found that cost was not the primary reason for avoiding GLP-1 drugs. Only 16% of respondents cited expense, while 51% preferred managing weight through diet and exercise and 38% were concerned about side effects. Still, 11% said they had personally used a GLP-1 and 18% reported that they or someone close to them currently uses a weight loss drug.
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