Employees want weight loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy. Can employers afford them?

Published June 21, 2023 5:30 AM EDT Updated July 10, 2023 10:06 AM EDT 6 Min Read

Man prepares semaglitude injection for weight loss and diabetes control — stock.adobe

A wave of interest in trending weight loss drugs, fueled by headline-dominating celebrity slim-downs, is causing some employers to see their healthcare costs skyrocket. Now, leaders are turning to benefit providers, advisers and innovators to help them quell costs and offer alternative solutions to treat obesity and manage weight.

The medications in question, including Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro, are part of a class of drugs known as GLP-1s, which are used to treat diabetes and can also help drive weight loss, in some cases supporting the loss of 15% (or more) of body weight.

Stephanie Schomer

Editor-in-chief

Stephanie Schomer is the editor-in-chief of Employee Benefit News. She was most recently the deputy editor of Entrepreneur magazine and previously held positions at Entertainment Weekly, … Read full bio

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