Millions in US use unapproved GLP-1s—and use them in unapproved ways
Cost and access barriers are pushing people to modified use and unapproved versions.
GLP-1 medications are everywhere these days. The peptide-based drugs are both highly effective and wildly popular for diabetes, weight loss and a growing range of connected chronic health conditions, including cardiovascular disease and obstructive sleep apnea. But, amid the boom, the latest data suggests millions of Americans have turned to unapproved versions and are using the potent drugs in ways doctors never intended, raising questions about what that real-world use means for safety and efficacy.
In a study published this week, researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention broke down survey data of GLP-1 use collected between July and August of 2025. Based on responses from over 8,000 US adults, the researchers estimate that about one in 10 US adults (9.8 percent) used a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, aka GLP-1 medication, in 2025. That's around 27 million adults. The study was published in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Among GLP-1 users, nearly half (44 percent) reported using their GLP-1 in a way that was different from how it was prescribed. Users skipped doses, delayed getting refills, and used smaller doses than prescribed, among other changes. More than half of the people modifying how they used the drug said the changes were because of cost or availability reasons. Cost and access barriers were most pronounced among younger GLP-1 users. Fifty-eight percent of adults 14–39 years old who modified their use cited cost as a barrier, compared with just 20 percent of adults 65 or older who said the same.
This story was first published by Ars Technica. Read the original report