GLP-1s are among the most talked-about and costly items in employer health plans. They offer real benefits for weight loss and heart health, but rising costs are prompting many HR leaders to reconsider their coverage. If companies have to restrict access, employees could face a “prescription gap,” in which they could lose any early health improvements. Protecting both employee health and company budgets requires a strategy that supports employees before, during, and after GLP-1 use.
The Coverage Pullback is Underway
With costs of $10,000 or more per employee, GLP-1s are becoming too expensive for many health plans. While coverage hasn’t disappeared, many employers are scaling back, moving from wide availability toward restricting use to people with diabetes or capping how long employees can take the medications.
Even when companies pay for GLP-1s, about half stop taking them within a year. This creates a risky gap. Without a plan to support these employees when they stop the medication, any early progress can quickly fade.
The Rebound Reality
The main risk with GLP-1s isn’t just their cost, but the weight regain that often happens when people stop taking them. Without healthy habits in place, weight regain is common. One study found that patients gained back about 60% of the weight they lost within a year of stopping the medication.
Weight regain is only part of the problem. Stopping the medication can also be tough emotionally. If employees have to stop treatment due to cost, availability, or side effects, they may feel discouraged or feel like they failed. This can make them lose motivation and give up on their health goals altogether.
Movement: The Missing Piece
To address this gap, employers need to look beyond just access to the medication and focus on what supports outcomes over time. That’s where movement comes in, serving as the bridge between short-term progress on the medication and maintaining that progress once they stop taking it.
While GLP-1’s can help with weight loss without making lifestyle changes, research shows that exercise can make the results even better. Combining the two enhances the effectiveness of the medications. Building exercise habits during treatment is especially important, as it can help prevent weight regain after stopping the medication.
Why Strength Training Changes the Equation
Without exercise, especially strength training, as much as 40% of weight lost on GLP1-s can be muscle. Losing muscle matters because muscles help with metabolism, support insulin sensitivity, regulate blood sugar levels, and help keep weight off.
Strength training helps reduce this risk by:
- Preserving lean muscle during weight loss
- Supporting metabolic health and insulin sensitivity
- Improving functional strength and reducing injury risk
From Medication to Momentum
The key is to support employees before, during, and after treatment so that short-term results can turn into lasting habits. This begins by considering GLP-1s as part of a broader health strategy. In practice, this looks like:
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- Start from day one: Encourage movement and strength training right away. This helps ensure that as employees lose weight, they’re already building the habits they need to keep it off.
- Make it easy to engage: For employees dealing with side effects or tiredness, exercise should feel helpful, not like extra work. Offer flexible fitness options, like a 10 -minute walk or a 20-minute strength session at home.
- Lean into the power of habit stacking: Attach a small wellness habit to an existing workday routine. This helps make healthy behaviors stick, even after the medication ends.
Aaptiv: Closing the GLP-1 Gap
Long-term results don’t come from a prescription alone. They come from the daily habits employees build. By offering tools to build a healthy lifestyle, Aaptiv helps bridge the gap between short-term results and lasting change so your investment in employee wellness continues beyond the prescription.
Aaptiv helps employees create the habits that lead to long-term results:
- Strength training programs designed for all levels
- AI-powered plans that adjust as employees’ needs change
- Short, flexible workouts that fit into real schedules
- Mobility and recovery content that keeps employees moving safely and reduces the risk of injury
Learn more about Aaptiv employee fitness and wellness solutions.
