Brief
GLP‑1 prescriptions surge among new mothers, reaching 1.9% in 2025
Research shows a dramatic increase in GLP‑1 use by postpartum women, especially those with diabetes or obesity.
By Felo News Desk · Published
U.S. researchers report that the share of new mothers prescribed GLP‑1 medications for weight loss rose from 0.8% in 2018 to 1.9% in 2025, a 24‑fold increase, according to a New York Post article published on Oct. 3, 2026.
What happened
The study tracked roughly one million births and identified mothers who began GLP‑1 therapy within six months of delivery. Overall, 11% of U.S. adults were on a GLP‑1 drug in 2025, meaning more than one in ten adults use a medication such as Ozempic, Wegovy or Mounjaro.
What the reports add
Among postpartum women, those with type 2 diabetes saw prescriptions climb from 2.3% to 16.9% between 2018 and 2025. Women who experienced gestational diabetes increased from 0.4% in 2021 to 2.7% in 2025. The steepest rise was among mothers classified as obese or overweight before pregnancy, whose GLP‑1 use jumped from 0.4% in 2021 to 3.9% in 2025.
What was said
The article does not quote individual experts, but notes that researchers attribute the surge to the drugs’ proven weight‑loss efficacy—average reductions of 7%‑11% of starting weight—and ancillary health benefits, including lower risks of depression, dementia, cancer, heart attack and substance abuse.
How it came about
GLP‑1 drugs were originally approved for diabetes management. In 2021 the FDA expanded their indication to include weight‑loss treatment, prompting broader adoption and fueling the rapid increase observed among new mothers seeking to shed pregnancy‑related weight and mitigate future diabetes risk.
Key facts
- GLP‑1 prescriptions for new mothers rose from 0.8% in 2018 to 1.9% in 2025 (nypost.com)
- 11% of U.S. adults were on a GLP‑1 drug in 2025 (nypost.com)
- Postpartum women with type 2 diabetes saw prescriptions rise from 2.3% to 16.9% between 2018 and 2025 (nypost.com)
- Gestational‑diabetes mothers’ GLP‑1 use grew from 0.4% in 2021 to 2.7% in 2025 (nypost.com)
- Obese or overweight mothers before pregnancy increased GLP‑1 use from 0.4% in 2021 to 3.9% in 2025 (nypost.com)
Sources
- [1] nypost.com — originally reported as “GLP-1 use is way up in a key demographic — rates are 24x higher than in 2018”
