US’ Ozempic captial is not in NYC or LA but a southern city

Despite its Hollywood weight loss wonder reputation, Bowling Green, Kentucky has emerged as the largest Ozempic hotspot in the US.

Located just an hour north of Nashville, Tennessee, Bowling Green has seen the highest prescription rates in the nation for Ozempic, a diabetes treatment that has become popular for weight loss purposes, as reported by Bloomberg.

The city’s usage rate is 4% of all residents, significantly higher than major metropolitan areas like Brooklyn and Miami. Census data reveals that Bowling Green has a population of just over 72,000 with a median household income of around $46,000.

Retired teacher Mary Sansom humorously remarked, “We’re redneck enough to be fat, but smart enough to do something about it.”

Data also shows that Kentucky heavily relies on Ozempic and similar medications like Wegovy or Zepbound, with nearly 1 in 15 residents prescribed to one of them.

“Ozempic and Wegovy, that’s all I hear,” said Brianna Tooley, a Walgreens pharmacist in Bowling Green.

The effort to address the obesity issue in the city has led to the emergence of quick-fix imitators in the market, causing additional challenges. Pharmacies are also introducing similar products.

Candace Sims, a 25-year-old GNC store manager, shared an incident where her son fell ill after trying a generic supplement that his friends were using.

Medical spas and weight loss clinics have also entered the healthcare scene by prescribing these drugs.

Resident Marie Ellis, who lost 80 pounds on a similar drug called Mounjaro, joined a spa that offers cheaper alternatives to her prescription.

She noted that accessing these facilities has become challenging due to high demand, comparing it to a posh club in Tinseltown.

“If you went over tomorrow at 8 a.m., or even before, you won’t find any parking spots.”