The past, present and future of GLP-1s 

By The Wondr Health Team 

Obesity and weight-related chronic conditions are one of the most pressing challenges in the modern workplace. Half of American adults have at least one chronic condition and 90% of the U.S. medical expenditures are associated with chronic and mental health conditions. Rising obesity rates and increased healthcare spending also contribute to higher rates of absenteeism and presenteeism, placing a significant burden on employers.  

While GLP-1 medications have emerged as a promising tool in obesity management, they come with complexities; ranging from high costs and access barriers to long-term treatment considerations. Whether you choose to cover GLP-1s or not, these medications represent a broader shift in how obesity and weight-related chronic conditions are treated.  

The past: The early days of GLP-1s 

While GLP-1s have been all the buzz in the employee benefits space recently, these medications date back decades. Initially developed for type 2 diabetes, early formulations focused on improving blood sugar control rather than significant weight loss. Liraglutide was the first GLP-1 for weight loss, which resulted in a 5% weight loss for most patients. 

While early medications showed promise, they were limited by today’s standard, and they came with notable challenges. Patients frequently experienced gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, which impacted adherence and overall satisfaction. Additionally, the weight-loss effects of early GLP-1s were modest compared to newer formulations, limiting their appeal for obesity treatment. As a result, many patients and healthcare providers were hesitant to adopt these medications beyond diabetes care. Understanding this history is key to recognizing how GLP-1s have evolved, moving from a niche diabetes treatment to a cornerstone of obesity and chronic disease management today. 

The present: Obesity and weight-related chronic condition management 

There are many tough questions organizations face today when considering their GLP-1 strategy. Do we cover them? How do we manage costs? What happens when individuals stop taking them? Great strides have been made when it comes to GLP-1 outcomes, and people are increasingly turning to these medications for weight loss or chronic conditions through insurance or self-pay with FDA-approved or compounded medications. The issue is that access to GLP-1s often comes with little to no support. 

With such a high discontinuation rate—30% within three months and 50% within six months, better support is needed to prevent weight regain, manage side effects and psychological challenges, and build lifestyle changes that are needed for long-term success, whether organizations cover GLP-1s or not.  

Solutions:  

To improve well-being and manage rising costs, organizations need a sustainable strategy that addresses the health of their whole population and strikes the right balance between prevention and treatment.  

Wondr Health recently surveyed more than 1,000 participants in January 2025 and asked which of the following resources would be most helpful to prevent and manage a weight-related chronic condition. With 31% and 27% of participants citing behavior change as the most helpful intervention for prevention and management respectively, organizations can focus on behavioral support at the foundation of their benefits strategy along with nutrition counseling and physical activity programs for a holistic approach to health. For organizations with weight-related chronic conditions, the survey highlighted the value of disease-specific support suggesting the benefit of tailored resources for conditions like diabetes or heart disease.  

With behavior change at the foundation of a benefits strategy, here are additional ways to manage obesity and related chronic conditions and costs:  

Treat obesity as a chronic disease. Obesity is not a simple matter of willpower or calories in and calories out. It is a chronic, complex disease that requires long-term management, much like diabetes or hypertension. Shifting from viewing weight loss as a short-term goal and building sustainable benefits strategies that support lifelong health reduces stigma and leads to better clinical outcomes and cost savings.  

Address the root cause of obesity. Diet, genetics, stress, medication and more can contribute to weight gain making personalized treatment necessary. For long-lasting weight loss, individuals need personalized behavioral and lifestyle change support to address the underlying cause of obesity and create sustainable habits that support weight maintenance. 

Offer full-spectrum support. Whether organizations cover GLP-1s or not, delivering a continuum of care across the acuity spectrum will help them scale and adapt to strengthen current and evolving benefit plans to improve health and contain costs. 

Provide access to obesity experts and tailored treatment. GLP-1s should not necessarily be the first line of defense when it comes to weight loss. Implementing tiered benefits and step therapy, along with clinicians who specialize in obesity medicine, ensures that the most cost-effective and clinically appropriate drugs are prescribed based on the patient’s overall health profile. This strategy not only enhances adherence to treatment but also helps control healthcare costs, leading to improved patient outcomes. 

Use both human and digital touchpoints. Having a solution in place that includes behavioral support, nutrition counseling, expert guidance, and personalized content helps with medication adherence, nutrition and healthy eating skills, improved movement, and emotional health. Condition-specific tracks also are helpful for populations that are living with chronic disease. 

Optimize coverage with data. Organizations offering GLP-1s should track usage, discontinuation rates, and clinical outcomes to ensure cost-effectiveness. A strategy guided by data-derived insights will have a stronger impact on both short-term and long-term outcomes that can strengthen ROI. 

The future: the next generation of weight loss and medication  

With the momentum and potential of weight-loss medications, organizations are closely watching predictions of what the future holds. With so much on the line, it’s more important than ever to rely on knowledgeable experts with a background in obesity research to provide insights to help shape their benefits strategy. 

One thing is sure: Healthcare has been irrevocably changed due to weight-loss medications, and we’re just at the beginning. Medications are becoming more effective, accessible, and affordable. The biggest question is…exactly how? Here’s what to expect for the next phases of obesity and weight-related chronic condition management: 

• Efficacy skyrockets. The race is on for the next generation of weight-loss medications. There are multiple medications in various phases of research that address different issues such as tolerability, efficacy, dosing, oral delivery, and condition-specific treatment. Triple G is one medication that has demonstrated weight loss up to 24.2% at 48 weeks in a mid-stage trial. Nicknamed for its ability to target three key hormones—GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon—which regulate insulin control and fullness, enhancing its effectiveness for employees. 

• More medications, lower costs. The weight-loss medication landscape is rapidly expanding, with 120 obesity drugs in development. As options grow, expert, personalized care will be crucial to ensure patients receive the right treatment. Increased market competition will also help drive down prices, benefiting health plans, employers, and employees. 

• A medication moonshot. FDA indications for weight-loss medications are expected to expand in the coming years touting the future generation of weight-loss medications as “miracle drugs”. But what makes them so effective across various conditions? They can target the root causes of many chronic diseases, such as prediabetes, liver disease, dementia, and substance use disorders, by reducing both weight and inflammation. 

• Emphasis on precision dosing. Currently, FDA-approved weight-loss medications are prescribed in standard doses, regardless of individual needs. However, in the coming years, dosing is expected to become more tailored, differentiating between weight loss and weight maintenance, adjusting for specific chronic conditions, and addressing cases where patients don’t need weight loss but are at risk for heart disease for instance. Pediatric dosing for childhood obesity will also be an important consideration. 

• A step toward living better longer. Medicine to help people live better longer is a rapidly growing field, gaining significant attention as people seek to extend lifespan and improve quality of life as they age. With their ability to address weight, reduce inflammation, and combat weight-related chronic conditions, weight-loss medications are being studied in this realm. But can they truly extend lifespan alone? Beyond improving health, these medications enhance quality of life and lower the risk of life-threatening events, including strokes, heart failure, and all-cause mortality. However, sustained health isn’t just about medication. Long-term health outcomes depend on behavior-change support, mental and emotional well-being, and expert-guided, personalized care. Lasting benefits require more than just a prescription. They demand a comprehensive approach to lifestyle and adherence. 

Navigating the future of obesity management in the workplace 

Obesity and weight-related chronic conditions are growing challenges, and while GLP-1s are revolutionizing treatment, they also present cost and access concerns. The future holds promise, including new medications, expanded indications, and greater affordability, but the rapid evolution of obesity management makes it difficult for organizations who assess benefits annually. 

In this rapidly evolving landscape, organizations need a forward-thinking approach to balance coverage, cost, and outcomes. By leveraging the strategies outlined here, organizations can stay ahead of the curve, integrating innovative benefits solutions that not only enhance health but also drive long-term financial sustainability. The future of obesity management is transformative, and with the right strategy, organizations can lead the way in shaping a healthier, more productive future for their people. 

To learn more about how Wondr Health can help address obesity and weight-related chronic conditions, visit https://wondrhealth.com/get-started-business/.