Why 40% of GLP-1 Users Quit for Reasons Beyond Cost
For months, the national conversation around GLP-1 drugs has focused on one question: can anyone afford to stay on them long enough to see results?
It’s a valid concern. Medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide have transformed obesity care, but their high cost and inconsistent insurance coverage have dominated the discussion.
Then a new study from Cleveland Clinic added a layer of truth to the story. Shared by obesity specialist Dr. Melanie Jay, the study revealed something surprising: nearly 40 percent of people who stop taking GLP-1 medications do so for reasons that have nothing to do with money.
Even if cost weren’t an issue, many patients would still quit.
What the Study Found
The research, led by Hamlet Gasoyan, W. Scott Butsch, Nicholas J. Casacchia, Rebecca Schulte, Victoria Criswell, Jacqueline Fox, Holly Renner, Phuc Le, Jordan Alpert, and Michael B. Rothberg, analyzed electronic health record data from adults with overweight or obesity who began injectable semaglutide or tirzepatide between January 2022 and December 2024.
All 288 participants discontinued treatment within the first year. Here’s why:
- 137 patients (47.6%) stopped due to cost or insurance-related issues
- 42 (14.6%) due to side effects
- 34 (11.8%) due to medication shortages
- 7 (2.4%) switched to compounded medication
- 5 (1.7%) due to unsatisfactory weight loss
- 31 (10.8%) for other reasons
- 32 (11.1%) had no specified reason
In total, around 40 percent quit for reasons unrelated to cost.
That means a significant portion of patients could have continued treatment with the right education, support, and expectation-setting.
The Human Side of Quitting
Behind the statistics are real people, each with their own story.
Take Sarah. She’s 42, working full time, raising kids, and trying to take care of herself. After years of failed diets, her doctor prescribes semaglutide. The first few weeks go well. Then the nausea hits. She starts skipping meals. She feels weak, anxious, and frustrated. She doesn’t realize these symptoms are temporary and manageable. Her next appointment isn’t for months.
So one morning, she simply stops taking the medication.
Not because she couldn’t afford it.
Not because it didn’t work.
But because she felt alone in managing it.
Multiply Sarah’s story by thousands, and you start to see the hidden 40 percent the study uncovered.
What Dr. Jay Said
Dr. Melanie Jay summarized it perfectly in her LinkedIn post sharing the study:
“Price and access are critical policy issues that will improve over time. But if we focus only on cost, we’ll miss the chance to help many people stay on effective therapy.”
Patients need practical support: proactive side-effect management, nutrition coaching, resistance training to preserve muscle, and counseling as needed. Importantly, they need reliable information.
That’s the missing link between starting treatment and staying on it.
What Patients Actually Need
The Cleveland Clinic study points to something powerful: success with GLP-1 medications isn’t just about affordability. It’s about sustainability.
To stay the course, patients need:
- Guidance through side effects before they give up.
- Education about what’s normal, what’s temporary, and how to manage it.
- Lifestyle reinforcement to preserve muscle and energy.
- Behavioral tools that track progress without judgment.
- Reliable follow-up to keep them accountable and supported.
That’s where Shapa fits in.
How Shapa’s Numberless Scale® Helps
Shapa was built on the science of behavior change, designed to help people form consistent, lasting habits. The Shapa Numberless Scale® removes the anxiety of daily weigh-ins by eliminating numbers altogether. Instead, it gives users color feedback that reflects their overall trend, not daily fluctuations.
Through the Shapa app, users receive personalized habit missions such as increasing hydration, eating protein first, or taking short movement breaks. These small, science-backed actions create momentum and confidence during the adjustment period when side effects or frustration might otherwise lead to quitting.
By focusing on behavior and progress instead of numbers and setbacks, Shapa helps people stay engaged. It supports the mindset patients need to continue their GLP-1 therapy and achieve real, lasting change.
The Future of Weight-Loss Support
The Cleveland Clinic study and Dr. Jay’s reflections reveal a truth we can no longer ignore: access matters, but adherence matters more.
The future of obesity care depends on bridging the gap between biology and behavior. Medications can reset the body’s response to food, but habits, mindset, and support determine whether the results last.
Shapa’s Numberless Scale® is helping fill that gap. By pairing behavioral psychology with compassionate technology, it empowers users to stay consistent, confident, and committed to their journey.
Because in the end, staying on therapy isn’t just about being able to afford it. It’s about having the right tools, the right habits, and the right support to believe in it long enough to let it work.
