How common and changing use of weight-loss drugs is before and during pregnancy in the US from 2018 to 2023

Approximately 0.32% of pregnancies involved exposure to anti-obesity medications from 2018 to 2023.

• The highest prevalence of exposure was observed in women aged over 40 years (1.1%).
• Women with pre-pregnancy obesity had an exposure rate of 1.4%, while those with type 2 diabetes had a rate of 1.2%.
• Overall exposure to anti-obesity medications increased from 0.31% in 2022 to 0.58% in 2023.
• Phentermine was the most commonly used anti-obesity medication before 2023, while semaglutide became the most prevalent in 2023.
• Further research is needed to assess the maternal and fetal outcomes linked to anti-obesity medication exposure.

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