Latest GLP-1s Trends– June 2025
Each month brings new data, new drugs, and new challenges—here’s your June 2025 roundup of the most important GLP-1 trends for providers.
This summary highlights key developments in adherence, dosing, innovation, mental health, and access that are shaping clinical practice and patient outcomes.
- More than 50% of patients discontinue GLP-1 therapy within 12 months
- Real-world dosing often falls below therapeutic levels, compromising results
- Emerging drugs like VK2735 and amycretin show promise for better outcomes
- Integrated tech-enabled care improves adherence and weight loss
- Mental health impacts are both hopeful and concerning—and need attention
Table of Contents
GLP-1 Trends vs. Real-World Reality
GLP-1 trends in 2025 are reshaping obesity treatment—but real-world outcomes aren’t keeping pace with the hype. Clinical trials showed weight reductions between 10–20%, leading to FDA approvals and widespread enthusiasm.
Yet in day-to-day practice, those expectations often fall short.
A major June 2025 study from the Cleveland Clinic revealed that over half of patients discontinued GLP-1 treatment within a year. Roughly 80% of patients were prescribed doses below therapeutic levels. For some, this was due to intentional microdosing—a strategy that may help manage side effects.
According to Dr. Holly F. Lofton, some patients are “super responders” and experience benefits even at reduced doses. Still, major professional organizations like the American Diabetes Association do not currently endorse microdosing due to limited supporting research.
Patients are encouraged to work closely with their healthcare provider to find the right dose for their goals and tolerance.
The Results:
- Early quitters lost just 3.6% of body weight
- Late discontinuers lost 6.8%
- Only those who stayed on high doses for the full year saw 13.7–18.0% reductions, close to trial outcomes
The issue? For many, it’s not drug efficacy—but a mix of cost, access, side effects, systemic barriers, and in some cases, dosing strategies like microdosing that may work for certain individuals but aren’t universally supported by clinical guidelines.
Why Patients Quit: A Closer Look
- Cost & Insurance — Many patients couldn’t afford the medications or navigate insurance hurdles.
- Side Effects — GI distress and other symptoms drove early drop-off.
- Medication Shortages — Patients lost progress when they couldn’t access prescriptions.
GLP-1 Trends and the Next Generation of Drugs
Highlights from June:
- Viking Therapeutics launched Phase 3 trials for VK2735, a dual GLP-1/GIP agonist showing up to 14.7% weight loss in early trials—with sustained effects even after discontinuation.
- Ecnoglutide, from Sciwind Biosciences in China, outperformed semaglutide and tirzepatide in trials, with 93% of participants achieving meaningful weight loss.
- Novo Nordisk advanced amycretin, a GLP-1/amylin receptor agonist, straight to Phase 3 after early results showed weight reductions up to 24.3%.
The Mental Health Conversation
GLP-1s don’t just affect the scale—they impact the mind. On the plus side, patients report reduced “food noise,” increased self-efficacy, and relief from weight stigma.
But clinicians are also noting mood changes, flattened affect, and potential links to depression in patients with dopamine-related vulnerabilities. The evidence is still mixed, but what’s clear is that mental health monitoring should be routine for any patient on GLP-1s.
These medications impact neurotransmitters, and so they can have an impact on mood... We've seen people who really feel like it boosts their mood, and I've seen others who feel like they struggle more with depression or irritability.
Closing the Gap with Technology
A June 2025 study from the ADA Scientific Sessions showed a powerful solution: combine GLP-1s with tech-enabled behavioral support. In a 24-week program that paired GLP-1 therapy with virtual coaching from WeightWatchers Clinic, 92% of patients completed treatment—nearly doubling the persistence rates seen in traditional care.
The Outcomes:
- 12.3% average weight loss
- 89% lost 5% or more of their body weight
- Significant reductions in blood pressure
Regulatory Shifts and Access Gaps
June also brought major policy changes. The FDA halted the sale of compounded GLP-1s, cutting off more affordable options for tens of thousands of patients.
Brand-name manufacturers responded with access programs, but coverage remains inconsistent. The shift highlighted a persistent truth: without affordable access, efficacy doesn’t matter.
For providers, this creates new pressure to navigate patient assistance programs, monitor drug availability, and advocate for expanded insurance coverage.
What GLP-1 Trends Mean for Providers
- Persistence and proper dosing matter more than ever.
- New drugs and digital platforms offer fresh hope.
- Mental health is not a footnote—it’s central to success.
- Systems and training—not just prescriptions—create results.
That’s why programs like the Certified Medical Weight Management Provider™ (CWMP) program are so valuable. With the obesity treatment market evolving monthly, providers need ongoing, evidence-based training in dosing, patient communication, access strategies, and implementation planning.
Because patients don’t just need prescriptions. They need trusted guidance that’s in their best interest.
Want to learn more about the CWMP certification? Explore the program and get the tools you need to build a sustainable, patient-first weight loss practice.
GLP-1 Certification for Weight Loss
Get trained in glp-1s and FDA-approved medical weight management treatments. Learn from the comfort of your home or office with our comprehensive online Certified Medical Weight Management Provider™ (CWMP) program.
Sources:
[1] Viking Therapeutics. (2025, June 25). Viking Therapeutics Announces Initiation of Phase 3 Obesity Clinical Program with GLP-1/GIP Agonist VK2735. https://ir.vikingtherapeutics.com/2025-06-25-Viking-Therapeutics-Announces-Initiation-of-Phase-3-Obesity-Clinical-Program-with-GLP-1-GIP-Agonist-VK2735
[2] Cleveland Clinic. (2025, June 10). Cleveland Clinic Research Finds Injectable Medications for Obesity Produce Smaller Weight Loss in A Real-World Setting, Compared to Randomized Clinical Trials. https://newsroom.clevelandclinic.org/2025/06/10/cleveland-clinic-research-finds-injectable-medications-for-obesity-produce-smaller-weight-loss-in-a-real-world-setting-compared-to-randomized-clinical-trials
[3] Rheumatology Advisor. (2025, June 4). FDA Halts Sale of Off-Brand Ozempic and Other GLP-1 Drugs. https://www.rheumatologyadvisor.com/news/fda-halts-sale-of-off-brand-ozempic-and-other-glp-1-drugs/
[4] US News & World Report. (2025, June 24). Rival GLP-1 Weight-Loss Drug Emerges From China. https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2025-06-24/rival-glp-1-weight-loss-drug-emerges-from-china
[5] PR Newswire. (2025, June 20). Novo Nordisk advances early-stage obesity medication, amycretin, to phase 3 clinical development. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/novo-nordisk-advances-early-stage-obesity-medication-amycretin-to-phase-3-clinical-development-based-on-early-phase-clinical-trial-results-in-people-with-obesity-or-excess-weight-published-in-the-lancet-302487500.html
[6] Drug Topics. (2025, June 24). Telemedicine With GLP-1 Behavior Program Shows Significant Declines in Weight, Blood Pressure | ADA 2025. https://www.drugtopics.com/view/telemedicine-with-glp-1-behavior-program-shows-significant-declines-in-weight-blood-pressure-ada-2025
[7] APA Monitor on Psychology. (2025, July 1). A new era of weight loss: Mental health effects of GLP-1 drugs. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2025/07-08/weight-loss-drugs-mental-health
