Rachel V Thomas

Health and Me

GLP-1 Drugs Ozempic, Zepbound Use Rises 24-Fold Among American Women After Childbirth

More <span>American women</span> are starting GLP-1 medications such as <span>Ozempic</span> and <span>Zepbound</span> after giving birth, according to a new study 

The findings, published in <em>JAMA</em>, found that the sharpest increases were seen among women with diabetes, obesity or overweight.

Researchers from the University of Southern California Schaeffer Center for Health Policy &amp; Economics analyzed private insurance claims covering just over 1 million births over seven years. 

They found that the share of new mothers starting a GLP-1 prescription within six months of childbirth rose from 0.08% in the first half of 2018 to 1.9% by the first quarter of 2025 — a 24-fold increase.

<h2>Which Women Are Driving The Rise?</h2>

Women with type 2 diabetes had the highest rate of GLP-1 prescriptions. Among them, use increased from 2.3% to 16.9% over the study period — roughly 1 in 6 women.

Prescribing also increased among women who had gestational diabetes, rising from 0.4% in mid-2021 to 2.7% in the first quarter of 2025. Gestational diabetes affects about 5% to 9% of pregnancies and substantially increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes later.

The fastest relative increase was seen among women diagnosed with obesity or overweight before pregnancy. GLP-1 use in this group rose from 0.4% in the second half of 2021 to 3.9% by the first quarter of 2025.

Since the second half of 2024, women with diagnosed obesity or overweight have accounted for 40% of new <span>postpartum</span> GLP-1 prescriptions.

Another 21% of women had no documented qualifying diagnosis before giving birth. However, most of these women received a diagnosis — usually obesity or overweight — before starting a GLP-1 medication.

<h2>Most Women Started GLP-1s 3 Months After Birth</h2>

Patients are advised to stop using GLP-1 medications during pregnancy. Most <span>postpartum women</span> in the study who started a GLP-1 did so at least three months after giving birth.

“Postpartum is a critical window for addressing metabolic risk after pregnancy, and we're seeing GLP-1 use explode in this population. Because evidence on GLP-1 exposure during breastfeeding remains limited, rising postpartum initiation warrants further study,” said lead author and Schaeffer scholar Sih-Ting Cai. 

A 2025 <em>JAMA</em> study found a similar rise in Denmark. Fewer than five GLP-1 prescriptions per 10,000 women were recorded after childbirth in 2018, rising to 173 per 10,000 by 2024 — nearly 2% of new mothers.

<h2>Can GLP-1s Raise Health Risks After Childbirth?</h2>

GLP-1s are increasingly used for postpartum weight loss, but their safety after childbirth remains poorly studied. According to researchers, little is known about how these drugs affect normal postpartum hormonal changes or maternal recovery. 

They also noted that evidence on GLP-1 exposure during breastfeeding remains limited, highlighting the need for further research as postpartum use increases.

“We simply do not know how weight-loss medication interacts with those processes or whether it could affect normal physiological recovery,” Dr. Jonathan Zipursky, a clinical pharmacologist and toxicologist at the University of Toronto, told The New York Times in 2025.

Evidence on GLP-1s during breastfeeding is also limited. A 2024 <em>CMAJ</em> paper suggested low breast-milk exposure, but researchers stressed that infant safety data remain insufficient. Zipursky recommended avoiding GLP-1s while breastfeeding as a precaution.

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More American women are starting GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic and Zepbound after giving birth, according to a new study The findings, published in JAMA, found that the sharpest increases were seen among women with diabetes, obesity or overweight.Researchers from the University of Southern California Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics analyzed private insurance claims covering just over 1 million births over seven years. They found that the share of new mothers starting a GLP-1 prescription within six months of childbirth rose from 0.08% in the first half of 2018 to 1.9% by the first quarter of 2025 — a 24-fold increase.Which Women Are Driving The Rise?Women with type 2 diabetes had the highest rate of GLP-1 prescriptions. Among them, use increased from 2.3% to 16.9% over the study period — roughly 1 in 6 women.Prescribing also increased among women who had gestational diabetes, rising from 0.4% in mid-2021 to 2.7% in the first quarter of 2025. Gestational diabetes affects about 5% to 9% of pregnancies and substantially increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes later.The fastest relative increase was seen among women diagnosed with obesity or overweight before pregnancy. GLP-1 use in this group rose from 0.4% in the second half of 2021 to 3.9% by the first quarter of 2025.Since the second half of 2024, women with diagnosed obesity or overweight have accounted for 40% of new postpartum GLP-1 prescriptions.Another 21% of women had no documented qualifying diagnosis before giving birth. However, most of these women received a diagnosis — usually obesity or overweight — before starting a GLP-1 medication.Most Women Started GLP-1s 3 Months After BirthPatients are advised to stop using GLP-1 medications during pregnancy. Most postpartum women in the study who started a GLP-1 did so at least three months after giving birth.“Postpartum is a critical window for addressing metabolic risk after pregnancy, and we're seeing GLP-1 use explode in this population. Because evidence on GLP-1 exposure during breastfeeding remains limited, rising postpartum initiation warrants further study,” said lead author and Schaeffer scholar Sih-Ting Cai. Similar Rise Seen In DenmarkA 2025 JAMA study found a similar rise in Denmark. Fewer than five GLP-1 prescriptions per 10,000 women were recorded after childbirth in 2018, rising to 173 per 10,000 by 2024 — nearly 2% of new mothers.Can GLP-1s Raise Health Risks After Childbirth?GLP-1s are increasingly used for postpartum weight loss, but their safety after childbirth remains poorly studied. According to researchers, little is known about how these drugs affect normal postpartum hormonal changes or maternal recovery. They also noted that evidence on GLP-1 exposure during breastfeeding remains limited, highlighting the need for further research as postpartum use increases.“We simply do not know how weight-loss medication interacts with those processes or whether it could affect normal physiological recovery,” Dr. Jonathan Zipursky, a clinical pharmacologist and toxicologist at the University of Toronto, told The New York Times in 2025.Evidence on GLP-1s during breastfeeding is also limited. A 2024 CMAJ paper suggested low breast-milk exposure, but researchers stressed that infant safety data remain insufficient. Zipursky recommended avoiding GLP-1s while breastfeeding as a precaution.

glp-1 drugs ozempic, zepbound use rises 24-fold among american women after childbirth

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