Gallup Finds 15% of Americans Have Tried Weight-Loss Drugs as Current Use Hits 11%
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 7
Gallup Finds 15% of Americans Have Tried Weight-Loss Drugs as Current Use Hits 11%
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 7
Summary
15% of Americans say they have used a weight-loss drug at some point, and 11% say they are taking one now, according to Gallup’s latest survey of more than 5,000 adults.
Current use is up from 3% in 2024, a jump Gallup and obesity specialists link to lower prices, new products including pills, and broader approvals for conditions such as liver disease, kidney disease and sleep apnea.
19% of current users said they take compounded versions, even after the FDA reiterated in June that large-scale copycat products carry risks and should be limited to certain cases.
91% of respondents now recognize the drugs, up from 80% in 2024, underscoring how quickly they have become mainstream.
The surge coincides with the U.S. obesity rate falling to 36.4% from a 39.9% peak in 2022, while diabetes diagnoses have leveled off after rising for more than a decade.
As obesity rates fall, are we swapping a health crisis for a lifelong, costly drug dependency?
Will your DNA soon decide if you get today's most powerful weight-loss drugs?
Beyond health, how will this weight-loss revolution reshape entire industries from food to travel?
The 587% Surge: How GLP-1 Drugs Are Reshaping U.S. Obesity and Diabetes Care, Spending, and Access (2019–2026)
Overview
From late 2025 to early 2026, the United States saw a dramatic surge in the use of GLP-1 medications. Originally developed to manage type 2 diabetes by mimicking a natural gut hormone that regulates blood sugar and signals fullness, these drugs quickly became a leading option for weight loss. Medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide are at the center of this shift. As a result, GLP-1 prescriptions for obesity soared by nearly 587% between 2019 and 2024, and by early 2026, about 12% of U.S. adults reported using GLP-1s specifically for weight loss.