The use of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) drugs for weight loss has seen a significant increase in the United States, with 11% of adults currently taking these medications, up from 3% in 2024, according to a recent Gallup survey. This surge in usage coincides with a notable decrease in the national adult obesity rate, which has fallen to 36.4% in 2026 after peaking at 39.9% in 2022. The diabetes rate has remained stable.
GLP-1 medications, originally developed to manage type 2 diabetes, mimic gut hormones to regulate blood sugar, appetite, and digestion. Their popularity surged in 2021 when the FDA approved Novo Nordisk's Wegovy for obesity treatment, following clinical trials demonstrating an average weight loss of 15% over 16 months. Semaglutide, known as Ozempic for diabetes, is also a key player in this class, alongside Eli Lilly's tirzepatide-based drugs Zepbound for weight loss and Mounjaro for diabetes.
The survey also found that 15% of respondents have used GLP-1s for weight loss at some point, a nine-percentage-point increase in two years. While name-brand GLP-1s are more common, compounded versions are gaining traction, particularly among those citing cost and insurance coverage issues as reasons for switching from more expensive brand-name options.
The landscape of GLP-1s is evolving with new formulations and contenders. The FDA approved a daily pill version of Wegovy in late 2025 and Eli Lilly's oral weight-loss drug orforglipron (Foundayo) in April. Eli Lilly's retatrutide, a once-weekly injectable that mimics three hormones, is expected to seek FDA approval this year, with early data suggesting potential for greater weight loss than existing GLP-1s.
Beyond weight management and diabetes, researchers are exploring GLP-1s for a wider range of conditions. Wegovy is now approved for treating non-cirrhotic metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) in adults with liver fibrosis and for reducing cardiovascular event risk in adults with obesity and heart disease. Zepbound is the first FDA-approved medication for moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity, and Ozempic is approved to slow the progression of chronic kidney disease in adults with type 2 diabetes. Potential uses in substance use disorders, neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, and chronic joint pain are also under investigation.
However, these medications are associated with side effects, primarily gastrointestinal issues like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation. More severe, though rare, risks include pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, bowel obstruction, stomach paralysis, acute kidney injury, and vision problems. Patients have also reported concerns related to rapid weight loss, such as loose skin and muscle loss, and the emergence or recurrence of eating disorder symptoms.