Beyond the prescription: The GLP-1 support economy in women’s health

From nutrition and side-effect management to monitoring and long-term care, an entirely new ecosystem is emerging around GLP-1 therapies.

GLP-1s are creating a support economy around everything that happens after the prescription, and women may be the most important customer group within it.

The global GLP-1 market is forecast to reach $150 billion within the next few years, with more than 100 million people expected to be using the drugs. Women are already the largest group of users, with a recent KFF poll finding that 15% of women versus 9% of men, are currently taking a GLP-1.

So far, the headlines have focused on the drugs themselves. But look beyond the prescription and an entire support economy is being built around everything that happens after the treatment begins.

ŌURA recently added GLP-1 Insights to its new Ring 5 model to help users track doses, side effects and weight, and then announced a partnership with Eli Lilly’s LillyDirect platform. Walmart has expanded weight-management support services. Maven has integrated GLP-1s into its broader women’s health offering. Weight Watchers has turned its behavioural expertise into a ‘GLP-1 success program’.

There is also a growing number of startups building businesses around nutrition, body composition, side-effect management and long-term maintenance. Even companies that didn't intentionally set out to serve GLP-1 patients are recognising this rapidly growing customer segment.

None of these companies are competing with the drug manufacturers. They're building businesses around everything that happens after the prescription.

After speaking with founders, clinicians and operators across the ecosystem, including Lean Health, Bummed, Metamorphysis, Qventus, and Found, it’s clear that an entirely new layer of healthcare is being built around everything that GLP-1s make necessary.

In this FFH Pro deep dive we map the emerging GLP-1 support economy: the companies building it, the gaps in care they're addressing, and why women may be at the centre of one of healthcare's fastest-growing new markets.

In this report you’ll learn:

• Why GLP-1s are becoming a women’s health story

• The care gaps driving the GLP-1 support economy

• How ŌURA, Walmart, Maven and a new generation of startups are building beyond the prescription

• The five commercial categories emerging around GLP-1s

• Why women are asking different questions about fertility, menopause and metabolic health

• What this could mean for the future of women’s health

This piece is part of our FutureFemHealth Pro - our subscriber-only intelligence layer covering the trends, infrastructure shifts and market signals shaping the future of women’s health.