While conversations around GLP-1s typically center on adults, a new report sheds light on prescribing trends among adolescents and offers recommendations for how employers can manage coverage and care.
The Nomi Health report, shared with MedCity News exclusively, analyzed four years of GLP-1 prescription claims data for adolescents ages 12 to 17 enrolled in a national population of self-insured employer health plans from 2022 through 2025.
It found that during this time period, GLP-1 adoption among adolescents rose more than 60% and total spend increased $111% from $857,000 to $1.8 million. In addition, scripts per member rose 30%, and cost per member increased 32%.
The strongest trend is among adolescents with diabetes. In 2022, 4.2% of adolescent members with type 2 diabetes were using GLP-1s, compared with 14.1% in 2025. About one in seven diabetic teens was on a GLP-1 in 2025.
Now, the question remains whether obesity will see a similar GLP-1 trend in the future. In 2022, 0.18% of adolescent members with obesity had a GLP-1 prescription. In 2025, 0.44% had a prescription. Meanwhile, the disease burden continues to rise, with diagnosed obesity prevalence among adolescent members increasing 20% between 2022 and 2025.
“The distance between disease prevalence and current prescribing rates is what makes this a cost planning question for self-funded employers,” according to Nomi Health. “Diabetes penetration reached 14.1% by 2025. Obesity sits at 0.44%. The conditions that drove the diabetes adoption curve are present for obesity too: a growing diagnosed population, FDA approval, and evolving clinical guidelines. If obesity prescribing follows a similar trajectory, the cost implications for self-funded employers would be significant.”
Nomi Health provided several recommendations for how employers can act based on these findings:
- Analyze adolescent GLP-1 claims across at least four years to gain a better understanding of prescribing and cost trends.
- Check that the correct support is in place, such as behavioral counseling and lifestyle support alongside medications.
- Plan ahead for the gap. Rising obesity prevalence, coupled with low treatment rates, could drive significant future costs, making it important to model the impact before it becomes a surprise in the budget.
“If this trend continues, … it’s going to force a lot of employers to start really thinking about not just the cost implications of this, but what are the clinical and utilization impacts of adolescents on GLP‑1s, and are they taking steps?” said Brian Woods, senior vice president of market insights and strategy at Nomi Health, in an interview.
Photo: Jason Dean, Getty Images
