Wellness industry grows on the Mississippi Gulf Coast as GLP-1 and preventative care demand rises - WLOX

JACKSON COUNTY, Miss. (WLOX) — The Global Wellness Institute reports the U.S. ranks in the top ten fastest-growing wellness markets, with the nation’s wellness economy now valued at 2.1 trillion dollars. The wellness industry on the Mississippi Gulf Coast is also growing quickly.

GLP-1 use rises amid social media influence

The use of GLP-1s, or glucagon-like peptide-1 medications, is on the rise. Innovative Rx Strategies reports a 300% increase in GLP-1 prescriptions in the U.S. since 2018.

AlphaCare Wellness Clinic owner and physician Dr. George Loukatos said the reason behind that increase, and peptide use in general, is the digital landscape.

“It’s all over social media,” Dr. Loukatos said. “Peptides are huge right now, which there’s a lot of misinformation about peptides. There’s a lot of safety issues that still aren’t answered. Mississippi specifically really does not want physicians prescribing peptides that are research grade. So there’s a lot going on in the community even that doesn’t really pass muster with a medical board.”

Dr. Loukatos said the drive to open a medical wellness facility is to inform patients on safe ways to explore wellness options rather than take advice from social media.

IV treatments and preventative ultrasounds gain interest

GLP-1s are not the only wellness option on the rise. IV treatments and preventative ultrasounds are now on people’s minds.

Alicia Gatz is a sonographer and diagnostic ultrasound technician at Elevate Health and Wellness clinic in Gautier. The clinic originally served as Treasured Memories, an ultrasound clinic for expectant mothers.

Gatz said clientele immediately increased since the clinic added wellness services in January, including weight management programs. She credits younger people for increasing interest across all generations.

“I think they’ve decided that the newer generation, especially the younger people, are really a lot better than us,” Gatz said. “We just listened to the doctor and went on and did whatever, but the younger people, they really want to be healthier. They want to ask questions.”

Clients seek proactive care

Gatz said healthier doesn’t always mean resorting to medication. She said she has seen many clients request preventative ultrasounds to learn more about what is happening in their bodies.

“We had a girl not very long ago that she was just having some irregular periods,” Gatz said. “And so we did an ultrasound on her ovaries, found a giant mass on her ovaries. And she, you know, had that removed. And so it’s just kind of being proactive in your care in a lot of different ways.”

Gatz predicts health care will become more proactive instead of reactive in years to come.

For more information on wellness services at AlphaCare Wellness and Elevate Health and Wellness, check out their respective websites.

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