The Nomi Health report, shared with MedCity News exclusively, found that GLP-1 adoption among adolescents ages 12 to 17 rose more than 60% from 2022 through 2025, with total spend increasing 111% from $857,000 to $1.8 million. The analysis examined four years of GLP-1 prescription claims data from self-insured employer health plans.
Among adolescents with type 2 diabetes, the shift was particularly dramatic. In 2022, 4.2% of adolescent members with type 2 diabetes were using GLP-1s, compared with 14.1% in 2025, meaning about one in seven diabetic teens was on a GLP-1 by 2025. Scripts per member rose 30%, and cost per member increased 32% overall. However, GLP-1 adoption among adolescents with obesity remains substantially lower. In 2022, 0.18% of adolescent members with obesity had a GLP-1 prescription, rising to just 0.44% in 2025, even as diagnosed obesity prevalence among adolescent members increased 20% between 2022 and 2025.
According to Nomi Health, “The distance between disease prevalence and current prescribing rates is what makes this a cost planning question for self-funded employers.” The report noted that diabetes penetration reached 14.1% by 2025, while obesity sits at 0.44%, and outlined the conditions that could drive obesity adoption: a growing diagnosed population, FDA approval, and evolving clinical guidelines.
Recommendations for Employers
Nomi Health provided recommendations for managing these costs: analyze adolescent GLP-1 claims across at least four years, ensure the correct support is in place such as behavioral counseling and lifestyle support alongside medications, and plan ahead for the gap between rising obesity prevalence and low treatment rates. Brian Woods, senior vice president of market insights and strategy at Nomi Health, emphasized the need for employers to think carefully about both the cost implications and the clinical and utilization impacts of adolescents on GLP-1s.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://medcitynews.com/2026/05/report-how-employers-can-better-manage-glp-1s-for-adolescents/