According to William Lindquist, the number of users of GLP-1 weight-loss medications, such as Ozempic, tripled in 2025 compared to the previous year. He also states that today, 7.5% of Swedish households, equivalent to 350,000 households, use these medications.
This shift is having a tangible economic impact on the food and retail sectors. A U.S. study found that people taking GLP-1 medications reduce their food expenses by over five percent. At the current level in Sweden, this would mean a sales loss in the grocery trade of 1.7 billion kronor annually. In the U.S., restaurants offer Ozempic menus with smaller portions, and food producers launch frozen meals targeted at GLP-1 users. Mars sees GLP-1 as the strongest contributing cause to its decreased sales, primarily due to suppressed appetite and sugar cravings.
Patients face significant access and cost challenges. Half of all patients who were prescribed weight-loss medication last year in Kalmar County received it via online doctors. The injections cost Carolina Almeborg 2200 kronor per month, and the medications are not subsidized. Today, most people with overweight must pay for the medications themselves, according to a report.
The largest group of weight-loss medications prescribed are GLP-1 analogs, such as semaglutid and liraglutid, that mimic the body's own gut hormones regulating appetite. The most sold medication, tirzepatid, is closely related to GLP-1 analogs but works on two different hormone receptors, GLP-1 and GIP, making it double-acting. Results are achieved in combination with reduced calorie intake and increased physical activity. The proportion of patients achieving at least 5% weight loss or more is 86% for semaglutid and 96% for tirzepatid at maximum dose.
Regional trends show a sharp increase in medication use and obesity rates. The use of medications against diabetes and obesity increased sharply during 2025, according to new statistics from the National Board of Health and Welfare. In 2025, obesity medications were purchased for 19.8 million kronor in Luleå municipality. Overweight and obesity are increasing across the country, including in Norrbotten, where levels are higher than the national average. The sale of weight-loss medications like Wegovy and Mounjaro increased by 126% in Norrbotten during 2025 compared to the previous year. Last year, almost 5,300 people in Halland picked up medication against obesity or overweight.
Market expansion is driven by several factors. The sale of weight-loss medications in Sweden has increased tenfold in three years. The medication is transitioning from injection to tablet form, opening up to a much larger target group. An additional 15% of Swedes are interested in trying GLP-1 medications.
This rapid growth raises questions about healthcare adaptation and long-term impacts. It remains unclear what specific policy changes or subsidies are being considered by Swedish authorities to address the high cost of weight-loss medications for patients. How Swedish healthcare providers are adapting their guidelines and training to manage the increased demand is also not fully known. Long-term health outcomes and side effects for patients using GLP-1 medications in Sweden are still being monitored.