Ozempic’s Spending Impact Grows as Employers Drop Coverage for Weight-loss Drugs

WHO:

Fast Company - An estimated 11% of American adults take a GLP-1 medication to lose weight.

Fast Company - Alan Horowitz, owner of Brooklyn-based, fifth-generation bespoke suit-maker Alan David Custom, told the Financial Times that weight changes among customers have strained the business’s free lifetime alterations.

Fast Company - Saxon Moseley, head of leisure and hospitality at RSM UK, said GLP-1 users may be willing to pay more for healthier and better options.

CNBC - Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan said the company spends about $250 million or more on GLP-1s and considers the spending a good investment because of employee health benefits.

CNBC - Caroline Susie, principal in Marsh’s total health management practice, described employers as “balancing empathy with economics.”

CNBC - Seth Friedman of Gallagher estimated 20% to 30% of the firm’s clients have dropped coverage for 2027 and are directing employees to purchase drugs directly.

WHAT:

Fast Company - A PwC survey found that 26% of GLP-1 users spend more on clothing; spending on jeans rose 66%, swimwear 31%, and jewelry 36%.

Fast Company - The PwC survey found 36% of users exercise more frequently, 14% attend group fitness classes less often, and 11% attend them more often.

Fast Company - If 178 Boeing 737 passengers each lost 10% of their body weight, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines could save about $580 million combined annually, according to Jefferies analyst Sheila Kahyaoglu.

Fast Company - Household spending at quick-service restaurants fell nearly 9% after six to eight months on GLP-1 medication; spending on pizza fell 22%.

Fast Company - PwC found 61% of current users buy fewer sweet treats, 44% buy more fresh produce, and 34% buy more fresh protein.

CNBC - WTW found 53% of employers with more than 100 employees cover GLP-1s for weight loss, down from 57% in 2025; 16% are considering removing coverage, up from 9% last year.

CNBC - Marsh projected employee health insurance costs would rise 8.2% on average in 2027, with GLP-1 use accounting for one percentage point of overall cost growth.

CNBC - Gallup reported that 11% of U.S. adults used GLP-1s for weight loss in 2026, compared with 3% in 2024; 15% said they had used the medicine for weight loss at some point.

CNBC - Self-pay Wegovy starting prices were $149 monthly for the pill and $199 for the shot; Zepbound started at $299 monthly for a single-dose vial or multi-dose KwikPen.

WHERE:

Fast Company - Alan David Custom is based in Brooklyn.

CNBC - The Marsh survey covered more than 1,800 U.S. employers.

WHEN:

Fast Company - The PwC survey was conducted earlier this year; reported spending changes occurred after six to eight months on medication.

CNBC - Novo Nordisk’s listed promotional prices may change in 2027.

CNBC - The WTW survey was conducted over the summer and was scheduled for full release on Wednesday.

WHY:

Fast Company - Doctors recommend strength training for GLP-1 patients to help counter loss of muscle mass or bone density during weight loss.

CNBC - Employers are reconsidering coverage amid rising healthcare costs and the high price of GLP-1 treatment.

HOW:

Fast Company - PureGym, Planet Fitness, and The Gym Group have allocated more floor space to strength and functional training.

CNBC - Employers may direct workers to NovoCare or LillyDirect, use programs from vendors such as Vida Health, Noom, and GoodRx, or reimburse some employee drug costs outside traditional pharmacy benefit manager formularies.

(UPDATED October 27, 2026 22:13 UTC)

GLP-1 use for weight loss has grown sharply, with 11% of U.S. adults taking the medications in 2026, up from 3% in 2024, reshaping spending and business from grocery shopping to clothing and fitness. Employers are weighing health benefits against rising costs: 53% of larger employers cover the drugs for weight loss, down from 57% in 2025, while some are dropping coverage or steering workers toward direct-purchase options. The drugs are also affecting businesses in unexpected ways, from Brooklyn’s Alan David Custom facing more lifetime suit alterations to airlines potentially saving money as passengers weigh less.