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GLP-1 adoption in South Carolina

South Carolina has an estimated 252,278 GLP-1 users across 46 counties. Average estimated adoption is 0.8 percentage points below the national rate of 5.7%.

Last reviewed |Reviewed by the FormBlends Editorial Standards Team

4.9%

Est. adoption rate

252,278

Est. users

36%

Avg adult obesity

5,142,750

Adult population

State facts for search and AI answers

What makes the South Carolina GLP-1 page useful

This page ties the statewide answer to county-level demand, coverage context, and practical access checks. The goal is to help readers move from a broad state estimate to the local county or provider question that actually matters.

State signal

South Carolina: 46 counties, 252,278 estimated GLP-1 users

State pages summarize the county-level demand model before readers drill into local pages.

Model inputs

Average adoption 4.9%; average adult obesity 36%

The model uses CDC PLACES obesity prevalence, Census population, and KFF national GLP-1 utilization.

Coverage context

South Carolina recently dropped GLP-1 obesity coverage under Medicaid (dropped coverage in 2025). T2D and other FDA indications are still covered. According to KFF (2026-01-16), federal Medicaid rules require GLP-1 coverage for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and sleep apnea indications. Obesity coverage is optional and varies by state.

Coverage policy can make real access higher or lower than projected local demand.

How to use this page

Find counties with the strongest demand signal, then verify coverage, provider access, and pharmacy source before starting care.

This is a local planning page, not a prescription recommendation.

Counties ranked by estimated adoption

Adoption strip: each bar is one county, tallest = highest estimated rate
County adoption strip. Tallest bar = highest projected adoption in South Carolina.
Ranked counties in South Carolina by estimated GLP-1 adoption.
RankCountyPopulationObesity %Est. adoptionEst. users
1Allendale8,07346.9%6.4%515
2Darlington63,02545.6%6.2%3,914
3Fairfield20,94245.6%6.2%1,300
4Dillon28,25545.3%6.2%1,743
5Marion29,21245.2%6.2%1,797
6Williamsburg30,87945.1%6.1%1,896
7Chesterfield43,53645.0%6.1%2,669
8Barnwell20,65344.3%6.0%1,245
9Lee16,55744.1%6.0%993
10Union27,15843.8%6.0%1,619
11Saluda18,95243.5%5.9%1,122
12Sumter105,19943.2%5.9%6,186
13Bamberg13,31143.1%5.9%781
14Orangeburg84,15943.1%5.9%4,940
15Hampton18,89041.6%5.7%1,069
16Marlboro26,58540.9%5.6%1,481
17Calhoun14,14540.7%5.5%784
18Florence137,01540.7%5.5%7,591
19Edgefield26,18139.7%5.4%1,414
20Colleton38,56139.1%5.3%2,051
21Cherokee56,20038.8%5.3%2,967
22Newberry37,91838.6%5.3%1,991
23Clarendon31,16338.4%5.2%1,630
24McCormick9,61238.3%5.2%501
25Oconee78,77538.2%5.2%4,096
26Abbeville24,36838.0%5.2%1,260
27Spartanburg330,11937.9%5.2%17,034
28Berkeley231,41937.8%5.2%11,918
29Chester32,17137.7%5.1%1,650
30Greenwood69,30937.5%5.1%3,535
31Pickens131,10637.3%5.1%6,660
32York282,98736.8%5.0%14,178
33Kershaw65,77936.3%4.9%3,249
34Laurens67,45636.3%4.9%3,332
35Anderson204,59236.2%4.9%10,086
36Lexington295,93435.9%4.9%14,471
37Lancaster97,61135.8%4.9%4,754
38Richland416,16135.8%4.9%20,267
39Jasper29,44435.4%4.8%1,419
40Dorchester162,13935.0%4.8%7,718
41Aiken169,86534.5%4.7%7,984
42Georgetown63,59432.5%4.4%2,811
43Greenville528,25132.5%4.4%23,349
44Horry356,57832.4%4.4%15,725
45Beaufort189,07130.7%4.2%7,903
46Charleston409,84029.9%4.1%16,680

How South Carolina fits the national picture

The KFF 2024 poll pegged national adult GLP-1 use at 5.7%. Applied to South Carolina's obesity profile, the model projects 4.9% of adults are on a GLP-1 medication. That matches the county-level obesity data from CDC PLACES (2023) more than any measured prescription count; the state's real share could be higher in urban areas with broad commercial coverage, or lower in rural regions where prescriber access is limited.

Compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide complicate the picture. After the FDA shortage resolution in late 2024 and early 2025, compounded supply dropped sharply. Brand-name utilization rose. The county numbers here don't separate brand vs. compounded, because no public dataset does yet.

Decision path

How should I use the South Carolina GLP-1 map?

This state view is a demand and access signal, not a prescription recommendation. Use it to understand where GLP-1 need may be concentrated, then pressure-test provider availability, insurance rules, and pharmacy quality before starting care.

State
South Carolina
Counties
46
Est. users
252,278
Avg adoption
4.9%

Step 1

Find county context

County estimates help separate broad statewide demand from the local access picture a patient actually experiences.

Review counties

Step 2

Check coverage and price

South Carolina access depends on payer policy, prior authorization, cash-pay pricing, and whether local clinicians can support follow-up.

Check coverage path

Step 3

Decide on care route

If local access is thin or pricing is unclear, a supervised telehealth assessment can clarify eligibility and next steps.

Compare provider options
Start provider review in South CarolinaReview pharmacy oversight

Evidence standard

How this page was source-checked

Editorial policy

FormBlends does not claim an individual clinician byline unless a named reviewer is available. For this page, the editorial team checks medical and regulatory claims against primary sources, clinical trials, public datasets, and regulator guidance.

CDC PLACES

Dataset

Used for county-level obesity inputs in local GLP-1 adoption estimates.

KFF GLP-1 utilization polling

Dataset

Used as the national anchor for estimated GLP-1 adoption.

STEP 1 semaglutide obesity trial

Trial

Primary trial source for semaglutide 2.4 mg weight-loss expectations and side effects.

Frequently asked questions

How is GLP-1 adoption calculated for South Carolina counties?
We multiply each county's CDC PLACES 2023 adult obesity prevalence by a scaling factor k = 0.1361, which comes from the KFF 2024 figure of 5.7% national GLP-1 adoption divided by the 41.9% national adult obesity rate. That gives an estimated per-county adoption %. Multiply by Census ACS 5-year 2022 county population to get projected users. South Carolina shows 4.9% state-average adoption under this model.
Why is South Carolina's number 0.8 percentage points below the national average?
Adult obesity prevalence in South Carolina averages 36% (CDC BRFSS 2024, state-level). The national average is 41.9%. The model links adoption linearly to obesity, so states above the national obesity rate come out above the national adoption estimate, and vice versa. Real variation also depends on commercial insurance coverage and Medicaid GLP-1 policy, both of which differ significantly by state.
Do Medicaid enrollees in South Carolina get GLP-1 coverage?
South Carolina recently dropped GLP-1 obesity coverage under Medicaid (dropped coverage in 2025). T2D and other FDA indications are still covered. According to KFF (2026-01-16), federal Medicaid rules require GLP-1 coverage for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and sleep apnea indications. Obesity coverage is optional and varies by state.
What studies back up GLP-1 weight loss expectations?
The STEP 1 trial (Wilding et al., NEJM, 2021) enrolled 1,961 adults on 2.4mg weekly semaglutide over 68 weeks and saw mean body weight change of negative 14.9% vs negative 2.4% on placebo. SURMOUNT-1 (Jastreboff et al., NEJM, 2022) tested tirzepatide in 2,539 adults over 72 weeks and saw negative 20.9% at 15mg weekly. Both were randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled.
How often does the South Carolina county data refresh?
CDC PLACES releases annually in late summer. Census ACS 5-year estimates release every December. KFF reruns its GLP-1 utilization poll roughly twice a year. We re-run the full county model whenever any of those update, and the last-reviewed date at the top of every page reflects the most recent refresh.

Sources

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Looking for GLP-1 care in South Carolina?

FormBlends ships compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide to South Carolina with licensed telehealth consultations.

Start your assessment

Estimated adoption figures are modeled projections from public data, not measured prescription counts. This page is general information, not medical advice. Individual results vary. Talk to a licensed healthcare provider before starting any medication.