The Hidden Barriers to GLP-1 Access for Spanish Speakers, And the Company Breaking Them

Spanish-first telehealth company NuestraRx says language, cost and a shortage of Spanish-speaking doctors are keeping many Hispanic adults from GLP-1 treatment

MIAMI, Nov. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- GLP-1 medications such as semaglutide and tirzepatide have become one of the most talked-about treatments in medicine, but relatively few Americans with obesity are actually getting them, and Hispanic patients are getting them at even lower rates. A study published in JAMA in 2025 found that just 2.3% of eligible adults with obesity had been prescribed semaglutide or tirzepatide. Among Hispanic patients the figure was 1.8%, compared with 2.4% for non-Hispanic White patients.

Miami-based NuestraRx, which offers GLP-1 weight-loss care entirely in Spanish, says much of that gap comes down to obstacles that show up well before a patient ever talks to a doctor.

Language is the most obvious one. According to 2024 Census Bureau data, roughly 18 million people in the U.S. who speak Spanish at home say they speak English less than "very well." When Pew Research Center asked Hispanic adults why their community tends to have worse health outcomes, 44% named communication problems tied to language or cultural differences as a major reason. Hispanic doctors are also scarce. Only about 7% of U.S. physicians and surgeons are Hispanic, according to Pew.

Coverage is another hurdle. Hispanic adults ages 18 to 64 had the highest uninsured rate of any group in the CDC's 2025 National Health Interview Survey, at 21.9%. For non-Hispanic White adults, the rate was 8.5%.

For patients who do make it into the system, much of what comes next, from intake forms to dosing instructions to follow-up messages, is often in English only. Some end up relying on a son or daughter to translate.

"You can have the best medication in the world, and it won't matter if the patient can't read the instructions or talk to anyone about how they're feeling," said Matheus F., founder and CEO of Nuestra Rx. "A lot of people in our community just stop asking questions. We wanted to build something where Spanish is the starting point, so nobody has to bring their kid along to translate their own health care."

At Nuestra Rx, the process starts with a short online evaluation in Spanish. A U.S.-licensed physician reviews each case and writes a prescription only when treatment is appropriate, and the medication ships directly to the patient's home. Patients can reach the Nuestra Rx team in Spanish at any point during treatment. The company doesn't require insurance and lists its prices upfront, with plans starting at $139 a month.

Nuestra Rx is LegitScript-certified and available to adults in all 50 states. More information is available at www.nuestrarx.com.

Compounded medications are not approved by the FDA. Prescriptions are issued only when a licensed physician determines treatment is appropriate.

About NuestraRx

Nuestra Rx is a Spanish-first telehealth company helping Hispanic and Latino adults across the United States access medical weight-loss care in their own language. Its mission is to make quality medical care, in Spanish, without barriers and with real results, the standard and not the exception. Nuestra Rx is headquartered in Miami, Florida. Learn more at www.nuestrarx.com.

SOURCE Nuestra Rx