Weight-Loss Drugs Spur More Spending on Other Health-Care Costs

Weight-loss drugs significantly improve health, though they’re also tied to increased spending on other medical care that’s sustained over time, a new study found.

Novo Nordisk A/S’s semaglutide, the active ingredient in both Wegovy and Ozempic, led to significant reductions in weight, blood pressure and cholesterol after two years. Excluding the price of the drugs, which can top $1,000 a month, health care costs for insurers rose by $67 a month in patients with diabetes and $81 a month for those without it.

The results could be a warning sign about the potential budget impact on health insurance programs ...