GLP-1 Weight Loss Drug Use Triples, as Obesity Declines

A growing number of Americans are turning to GLP-1 drugs to slim down. A new Gallup survey finds that 11% of US adults now take medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, or Zepbound for weight loss, more than triple the 3% just two years earlier, per the Hill. About 15% say they've used such meds at some point, a jump of 9 percentage points in the same time period. Awareness has also surged, with 91% now familiar with the drugs, up from 80% in 2024.

The rise in use tracks with a modest drop in self-reported obesity, from a peak of 39.9% in 2022 to 36.4% so far this year, while diabetes rates have flattened at about 13.5% over the past few years. Brand-name drugs from companies such as Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly still dominate, accounting for 68% of current use, but cheaper compounded or custom-mixed versions are gaining ground, with about a third of those users having switched from brand-name options, often citing cost or insurance coverage. Compounded GLP-1 drugs aren't approved by the Food and Drug Administration, with the agency recently deeming them "risky for patients," notes Forbes.