A new study confirms a sizable number of people taking drugs like Ozempic have no medical reason. The analysis of medical records of more than 92 million U.S. adults identified over 1.1 million taking GLP-1 medications without any record of an issue like obesity or diabetes.

Doctors said many are probably using them to shed pounds or for other potential benefits. "You see it all over the place," said Dr. Babak Orandi, lead author of the study published in Obesity. GLP-1s are only approved for conditions including obesity and diabetes, plus some heart and sleep apnea uses. But they have become a cultural phenomenon.

Off-label prescriptions jumped 15-fold between 2021 and 2025, and are almost certainly an undercount. More than one in three taking a GLP-1 off label had a normal body mass index. Patients were also more likely to have had a documented eating disorder, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol.

Scientists are studying other possible uses, including improving fertility and curbing alcohol cravings. Dr. Andrew Kraftson noted the study highlights how many doctors prescribe these drugs to patients who do not appear to qualify.