If you're based in the United States, the landscape for GLP-1 weight loss medications looks different from the UK. The medications available are largely the same, but the brand names, insurance dynamics, and costs are distinct. Here's what you need to know.
What's available in the US?
The FDA-approved options for weight management in the US include:
- Zepbound (tirzepatide) — the same drug as Mounjaro in the UK, but branded separately for weight loss in the US. FDA-approved for weight management in November 2023
- Wegovy (semaglutide injection) — FDA-approved for weight management in June 2021. Also approved as a daily oral pill for weight loss in 2025
- Saxenda (liraglutide) — daily injection, FDA-approved for weight management
- Mounjaro (tirzepatide) — FDA-approved for Type 2 diabetes (not weight loss), but often prescribed off-label
- Ozempic (semaglutide) — FDA-approved for Type 2 diabetes only
Eligibility
FDA-approved criteria for Zepbound and Wegovy are generally:
- BMI of 30 or above (obesity), or
- BMI of 27 or above with at least one weight-related condition (hypertension, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidaemia)
Cost and insurance
This is where the US system gets complicated. List prices for GLP-1 medications without insurance are approximately:
- Zepbound: ~$1,080/month
- Wegovy injection: ~$1,349/month (though reduced self-pay prices of $349/month have been introduced)
- Wegovy pill: $149–$299/month depending on dose
Insurance coverage varies significantly. Some employer plans and Medicare Part D plans cover weight loss medications; many don't. Prior authorisation is often required, and step therapy (trying cheaper options first) may be mandated. Manufacturer savings programmes, telehealth subscription services, and pharmacy discount cards can reduce out-of-pocket costs substantially.
Novo Nordisk has introduced subscription pricing through select telehealth providers (such as Ro, WeightWatchers, and LifeMD), with Wegovy injection available from approximately $249–$329/month on longer-term subscriptions.
How to access treatment
In the US, you can access GLP-1 weight loss medications through:
- Your primary care physician or endocrinologist — traditional route with in-person consultation
- Telehealth platforms — increasingly popular, with services like Ro, Hims, Found, Calibrate, and others offering online consultations and medication delivery
- Weight loss clinics — specialised clinics that provide comprehensive weight management including medication
Compounded semaglutide
During periods of FDA-declared shortage, compounding pharmacies in the US have been able to produce their own versions of semaglutide and tirzepatide. These are generally cheaper but are not FDA-approved products and their quality, purity, and dosing accuracy are not guaranteed to the same standard as brand-name medications. The regulatory situation around compounded GLP-1s continues to evolve.
For information about how these medications work, their side effects, and how they compare, our guides are applicable regardless of country — the drugs are the same. See our How It Works section and comparison tool.