West Virginia revealed as the state with the highest number of GLP-1 users amidst celebrity usage controversy

• West Virginia has the highest number of GLP-1 users, with 24,217.07 GLP-1 prescriptions per 100,000 residents.
• Kentucky has the second-highest number of users, with 22,003.90 GLP-1 prescriptions per 100,000.
• Hawaii has the lowest number of users, with 5,050.46 GLP-1 prescriptions per 100,000.

A new study has revealed the states with the highest number of GLP-1 users. GLP-1 drugs include Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro, and are used by many for weight loss. 

The research, conducted by personal injury lawyers Whitley Law Firm, examined the prescription numbers for GLP-1 prescriptions dispensed in 2024, scaled to local populations to establish a prescription rate per 100,000 residents in each state. 

West Virginia has the highest number of GLP-1 users, with 24,217.07 GLP-1 prescriptions dispensed per 100,000 residents. The number of GLP-1 prescriptions in 2024 reached 428,367, representing a 3.2% decrease from 2023.

Kentucky has the second-highest number of users, with 22,003.90 GLP-1 prescriptions dispensed per 100,000 residents in 2024. 1,009,621 prescriptions were dispensed in 2024, a 2.6% increase from 2023.

In third place is Louisiana, where 20,282.44 GLP-1 prescriptions per 100,000 residents were dispensed in 2024. In this state, a total of 932,543 GLP-1 prescriptions were dispensed, representing an 11.6% decrease.

Ranking fourth is Oklahoma, which recorded 19,504.89 GLP-1 prescriptions dispensed per 100,000 residents. Oklahoma saw a 16.8% increase in the number of GLP-1 prescriptions from 2023-2024, with 798,802 prescriptions dispensed in 2024.

Coming in fifth is Alabama, with 19,260.64 GLP-1 prescriptions dispensed per 100,000 residents. The number of GLP-1 prescriptions in this state rose slightly from 2023, by 0.4%, with a total of 993,406 dispensed in 2024.

Mississippi is in sixth place, with 18,745.96 GLP-1 prescriptions dispensed per 100,000 residents. In this state, the number of GLP-1 prescriptions dispensed in 2024 topped 551,702, an increase of 2.0% from 2023.

Next up is North Dakota, where 17,840.03 GLP-1 prescriptions were dispensed per 100,000 residents. 142,108 GLP-1 prescriptions were dispensed in 2024, representing a 20.8% increase from 2023.

Alaska ranks eighth, with 17,383.09 GLP-1 prescriptions dispensed per 100,000 residents in 2024. In this state, 128,658 GLP-1 prescriptions were dispensed in 2024, representing a 21.8% increase from 2023, the largest increase in this top ten listing.

In ninth place is Arkansas, with 17,346.00 GLP-1 prescriptions dispensed per 100,000 residents. 535,706 prescriptions were dispensed in 2024, a 1.4% decrease from 2023.

Finally, rounding off the top ten is Pennsylvania, with 17,131.12 GLP-1 prescriptions per 100,000 residents dispensed in 2024. 2,240,537 GLP-1 prescriptions were dispensed in 2024, an 8.8% increase from 2023.

On the other end of the scale, Hawaii has the lowest number of GLP-1 users, with 5,050 GLP-1 prescriptions dispensed per 100,000 residents. A total of 73,037 prescriptions were dispensed in 2024, a 21.0% increase from 2023.

The 10 states with the most GLP-1 prescriptions in 2024

	State	GLP-1 Prescriptions Dispensed in 2024 (Per 100,000 Residents)	Percentage Change (2023 to 2024)
1	West Virginia	24,217.07	-3.2%
2	Kentucky	22,003.90	2.6%
3	Louisiana	20,282.44	-11.6%
4	Oklahoma	19,504.89	16.8%
5	Alabama	19,260.64	0.4%
6	Mississippi	18,745.96	2.0%
7	North Dakota	17,840.03	20.8%
8	Alaska	17,383.09	21.8%
9	Arkansas	17,346.00	-1.4%
10	Pennsylvania	17,131.12	8.8%

Commenting on the study, a spokesperson from Whitley Law Firm said: 

“It’s interesting to see the varying rates of GLP-1 prescriptions across the U.S., highlighting the states where medications like Ozempic are most commonly used. With West Virginia leading the rankings, the differences may be due to a range of factors, including healthcare access, lifestyle, and medical needs.

“As the conversation around GLP-1 medications continues, it’s important to consider the factors driving these trends. Understanding these patterns can help inform future discussions on public health and medical accessibility.”

-ENDS-

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Sources: www.axios.com

Methodology:

Axios provides prescription numbers for GLP-1 drugs dispensed in 2024, divided by state (https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2025/01/09/mapped-weight-loss-drugs). This data is pulled from the Purple Labs prescription database.

Full state ranking 

	State	GLP-1 Prescriptions Dispensed in 2024 (Per 100,000 Residents)	Percentage Change (2023 to 2024)
1	West Virginia	24,217.07	-3.20%
2	Kentucky	22,003.90	2.60%
3	Louisiana	20,282.44	-11.60%
4	Oklahoma	19,504.89	16.80%
5	Alabama	19,260.64	0.40%
6	Mississippi	18,745.96	2.00%
7	North Dakota	17,840.03	20.80%
8	Alaska	17,383.09	21.80%
9	Arkansas	17,346.00	-1.40%
10	Pennsylvania	17,131.12	8.80%
11	Iowa	16,266.02	14.40%
12	Michigan	15,780.56	5.40%
13	Kansas	15,320.65	7.40%
14	Georgia	15,249.53	11.10%
15	Texas	14,908.07	4.80%
16	Tennessee	14,893.81	4.20%
17	Idaho	14,439.86	-10.90%
18	Ohio	14,255.93	6.90%
19	New York	14,196.83	15.10%
20	New Jersey	14,049.33	35.80%
21	Missouri	13,967.83	7.20%
22	South Carolina	13,613.05	9.30%
23	Nebraska	13,560.40	9.00%
24	Connecticut	13,129.49	12.70%
25	Illinois	12,892.06	13.80%
26	Maine	12,720.53	27.20%
27	Indiana	12,699.19	0.80%
28	North Carolina	12,334.49	5.70%
29	Wyoming	12,242.99	17.10%
30	New Mexico	12,217.31	20.40%
31	Virginia	11,687.53	9.00%
32	Vermont	11,516.08	-1.70%
33	Minnesota	11,440.58	13.00%
34	New Hampshire	11,281.01	15.30%
35	Montana	11,094.91	7.30%
36	Massachusetts	10,892.70	48.00%
37	South Dakota	10,872.32	-11.10%
38	Delaware	10,846.96	4.70%
39	Florida	10,390.41	23.70%
40	Wisconsin	9,978.32	21.80%
41	Maryland	9,644.91	22.60%
42	California	9,462.74	5.40%
43	Washington	9,015.30	8.40%
44	Utah	8,536.16	6.20%
45	Arizona	8,100.01	12.60%
46	Oregon	7,920.36	12.60%
47	Colorado	7,795.29	17.20%
48	Rhode Island	7,501.16	67.80%
49	Nevada	7,431.11	5.10%
50	Hawaii	5,050.46	21.00%