A VA Clinic Gave Veterans GLP-1s for Weight Loss. A Year Later, Everything Improved

Researchers at the Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center in Aurora, Colorado, tracked 201 veterans prescribed semaglutide, the drug sold under the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy, in the facility’s weight management clinic. After one year, those veterans averaged 10% body weight loss and showed measurable improvements in body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and blood sugar. They also reported improvements in their overall quality of life. 

The study, published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, is the first to examine semaglutide’s effectiveness specifically in a Department of Veterans Affairs weight management program rather than in a pharmaceutical company’s clinical trial.

Why It Matters for Veterans

Obesity rates among veterans are significantly higher than the general population. VA data has consistently shown that roughly 40% of veterans enrolled in VA health care are obese, with the highest rates among post-9/11 veterans. Obesity is a driver of cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, joint deterioration and a range of conditions that many veterans are already managing alongside service-connected disabilities. 

For veterans rated for conditions such as knee injuries, back pain or PTSD-related sleep disruption, excess weight compounds symptoms and limits mobility. Weight loss at the 10% level that the study documented is clinically meaningful. It is the threshold at which physicians typically see reductions in blood pressure medication needs, improved blood sugar control and decreased cardiovascular risk.

What makes this study valuable is that it reflects real-world VA clinical conditions, not a controlled pharmaceutical trial. The 201 veterans were prescribed semaglutide specifically for weight loss rather than for diabetes or other medical conditions. They were also enrolled in nutritional counseling and a weight-loss program that included exercise and physical health practices through the VA’s “Move!” program or equivalent. The results show that the drug works in a VA setting, with VA patients, under VA clinical protocols.

The Bigger GLP-1 Picture at the VA

This study is part of a growing body of VA-funded research on GLP-1 receptor agonists that is changing how the VA thinks about these drugs. Earlier this year, a separate VA St. Louis study of 606,000 veterans found that GLP-1 drugs reduced the risk of developing substance use disorders across every major addictive substance, including alcohol, opioids, nicotine, cocaine and cannabis. That study also found a 25% reduction in suicidal ideation among veterans taking GLP-1 medications. 

Read More: VA Study: Ozempic, Other GLP-1 Drugs May Fight Addiction Across Every Major Substance

A larger VA medication use evaluation across 37 VA medical centers found that semaglutide was among the most frequently prescribed weight management medications in the VA system and that veterans who combined medication with the VA’s “Move!” behavioral weight management program achieved higher rates of clinically significant weight loss than those on medication alone.

A separate study from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, also using VA data from 21,790 veterans, compared the cardiovascular and kidney safety profiles of three different GLP-1 drugs: liraglutide, semaglutide and dulaglutide. Published in JAMA Network Open, the study found that all three were comparably safe, with the lead researcher noting that the VA health system is a “treasure trove” of data for evaluating medications in real-world populations.

Access and Coverage

Semaglutide is available through the VA but is classified as non-formulary with criteria for use, meaning it requires prior authorization and is generally prescribed after first-line options have been considered. The fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act authorized Tricare to cover weight loss drugs for treating obesity when prescribed by a network provider and integrated into a comprehensive treatment plan, a significant expansion. The Trump administration announced in April 2025 that Medicare would not cover GLP-1 drugs for weight loss, reversing a Biden-era decision. That does not directly affect VA coverage, which operates under its own formulary, but the broader access debate continues to shape how quickly these drugs reach the veteran population.

Veterans interested in semaglutide for weight loss should talk to their VA primary care provider or ask for a referral to their facility’s “Move!” weight management program. The Aurora study demonstrates that the drug works best when combined with the behavioral and nutritional support the VA already provides.

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