GLP-1 Medicines for Weight Loss Reach Record Use Among US Adults
Key Takeaways:
- Eleven per cent of US adults report currently taking GLP-1 medicines for weight loss in 2026, a substantial rise from three per cent in 2024.
- Awareness of GLP-1 medicines intended for weight loss has increased to 91 per cent, while the US adult obesity rate has declined from its 2022 peak of 39.9 per cent to 36.4 per cent so far in 2026.
- Brand-name GLP-1 medicines remain the most commonly used option, but cost and insurance coverage appear to be driving some people towards compounded or custom-mixed versions.
GLP-1 use for weight loss continues to rise
The proportion of US adults who say they are currently taking GLP-1 medicines for weight loss has reached a new high in 2026, according to data from the Gallup National Health and Well-Being Index.
Eleven per cent of US adults now report current use of these medicines for weight loss purposes. This represents a significant increase from 2024, when three per cent reported current use. Lifetime use has also risen, with 15 per cent of US adults saying they have taken a GLP-1 medicine for weight loss at some point. This is an increase of nine percentage points.
The findings are based on a web survey of 5,065 US adults conducted between 28 May and 5 June 2026. The survey used the probability-based Gallup Panel, which includes respondents from all 50 US states and the District of Columbia.
How Gallup measured GLP-1 use
To assess whether people had ever used GLP-1 medicines for weight loss, Gallup asked respondents:
“Have you ever taken weight loss medications such as semaglutide (brand names Ozempic and Wegovy), liraglutide (brand name Saxenda) or tirzepatide (brand names Mounjaro and Zepbound)?”
People who answered “yes” were then asked a follow-up question to determine whether they were currently taking one of these medicines:
“Are you currently taking weight loss medications such as semaglutide (brand names Ozempic and Wegovy), liraglutide (brand name Saxenda) or tirzepatide (brand names Mounjaro and Zepbound)?”
These questions allowed Gallup to distinguish between lifetime use and current use among US adults.
FDA approvals have expanded the market
The rise in GLP-1 use follows the approval of several medicines for weight loss in the US. The Food and Drug Administration approved Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy, which contains semaglutide, for weight loss in 2021.
Since then, additional options have become available. Eli Lilly’s Zepbound, which contains tirzepatide, received FDA approval in November 2023.
As more treatment options have entered the market, public awareness has also increased. Gallup reports that 91 per cent of Americans are now aware of GLP-1 medicines intended for weight loss, up from 80 per cent in 2024.
Adult obesity has declined from its 2022 peak
Gallup’s latest findings show that the US adult obesity rate has continued to fall after reaching a record high of 39.9 per cent in 2022. So far in 2026, the adult obesity rate stands at 36.4 per cent.
Gallup describes this as a statistically meaningful decline. The trend has continued to move in the opposite direction to national GLP-1 use, which has increased over the same period.
Gallup calculates obesity using the federal standard of a body mass index of 30 or higher. BMI is calculated using respondents’ self-reported height and weight.
The organisation notes that self-reported data may produce somewhat lower estimates than studies based on randomised clinical measurements of height and weight. Gallup suggests that a “vanity effect” in how people report their own height and weight may help explain this difference. However, because Gallup has used a consistent method over time, the data still provides useful information about changes in the adult obesity rate.
Diabetes diagnoses have levelled off
While obesity levels have declined, the proportion of US adults who report having been diagnosed with diabetes has remained steady since 2023. This follows 15 years of gradual increases that occurred alongside rising obesity rates.
Gallup notes that a falling obesity rate would be expected to stabilise, but not necessarily reduce, the proportion of adults who have ever been diagnosed with diabetes. Diabetes is described in the original analysis as a lifelong disease that can be managed but not cured.
To measure diabetes prevalence, Gallup asked US adults:
“Has a doctor or nurse ever told you that you have diabetes?”
The diabetes rate includes people with Type 1 diabetes and people with Type 2 diabetes. The 2026 figures for obesity and diabetes are based on 10,091 respondents from surveys conducted from 18 February to 3 March and from 28 May to 5 June 2026.
Brand-name GLP-1 medicines remain the most common option
Among adults currently taking GLP-1 medicines for weight loss, brand-name options remain the most common.
Gallup found that 68 per cent of current use involves brand-name GLP-1 medicines such as Ozempic or Wegovy. By comparison, 19 per cent of current use involves compounded or custom-mixed versions of the medicine.
A further 12 per cent of people currently taking a GLP-1 medicine for weight loss are unsure whether they are using a brand-name medicine.
People using compounded versions report slightly higher effectiveness
Gallup also compared perceived effectiveness between people taking brand-name GLP-1 medicines and those taking compounded or custom-mixed versions.
People using compounded or custom-mixed GLP-1 medicines were slightly more likely to describe the medicine as “extremely effective”. Thirty-nine per cent of people in this group gave that response, compared with 32 per cent of people using brand-name GLP-1 medicines.
However, both groups generally regarded the medicines as effective. Seventy-seven per cent of people using compounded or custom-mixed versions said the medicine was either “effective” or “extremely effective”. Among people using brand-name GLP-1 medicines, the figure was 74 per cent.
Some people are switching from brand-name to compounded GLP-1 medicines
Although brand-name medicines continue to account for most current GLP-1 use, Gallup’s findings suggest that compounded or custom-mixed versions are gaining ground.
Among people currently using compounded or custom-mixed GLP-1 medicines, 35 per cent report having switched from a brand-name medicine. By contrast, 10 per cent of people currently using brand-name GLP-1 medicines say they switched from a compounded or custom-mixed version.
This suggests that movement towards compounded or custom-mixed GLP-1 medicines is greater than movement in the opposite direction.
Cost and insurance coverage appear to be major factors in this shift. Among people who switched from a brand-name GLP-1 medicine to a compounded version, 66 per cent cited cost or insurance coverage as their main reason for switching. Among those who switched from a compounded version to a brand-name medicine, 34 per cent cited cost or insurance coverage as the primary reason.
Wider implications for obesity and diabetes trends
The growing use of GLP-1 medicines for weight loss may point to broader health implications for adults in the US. Gallup’s analysis indicates that increased use of these medicines has coincided with a decline in the adult obesity rate and a levelling off in diabetes diagnoses after years of increases.
Previous research cited in the original analysis has shown a general alignment between GLP-1 use and declining obesity rates across age groups. One exception is adults aged 65 and older, among whom the reported effectiveness of GLP-1 medicines is lower.
Brand-name GLP-1 medicines still lead the market by a wide margin. However, the lower cost of compounded or custom-mixed versions appears to be contributing to a shift away from brand-name options for some people. This may be expanding access to GLP-1 medicines across broader sections of the population, although access remains limited.
Gallup suggests that this broader availability may be one factor helping to drive overall GLP-1 use higher in the US.
Source: Gallup
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Heart Disease Now Affects Nearly Half of US Adults, as Obesity and Diabetes Continue to Rise
Key Takeaways:
- Nearly half of adults in the United States are now living with cardiovascular disease, with prevalence projected to rise further as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension increase.
- New data highlight worsening cardiometabolic risk factors, including declining blood pressure and glycaemic control, alongside rising concerns around sleep health, physical inactivity, and nicotine exposure.
- The report underscores the urgent need for prevention-focused, equitable approaches to cardiovascular, kidney, and metabolic health across the life course.
A comprehensive annual snapshot of cardiovascular health
The 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Report from the American Heart Association, published in the journal Circulation, provides an updated and wide-ranging overview of heart disease, stroke, and cardiovascular risk factors. Updated annually, the report integrates the most recent data, adds new thematic chapters, and removes outdated material to reflect the evolving cardiovascular health landscape.
The latest edition draws on a year-long collaborative effort involving volunteers, scientists, clinicians, government representatives, and AHA staff. It includes an expanded chapter on nicotine and tobacco use and exposure, alongside a new chapter focused on cardiovascular, kidney, and metabolic (CKM) syndrome. Together, these additions reflect growing recognition of the interconnected nature of cardiometabolic risk factors and their cumulative impact on population health.
Cardiovascular health trajectories and nicotine exposure
According to the report, several major cardiometabolic conditions are projected to rise substantially by 2050 among adults in the United States. Hypertension prevalence is expected to reach 61 percent, diabetes 26.8 percent, and obesity 60.6 percent. In contrast, hypercholesterolaemia is the only major risk factor projected to decline, falling from 45 percent to 24 percent.
Most core health behaviours are projected to worsen over time. An important exception is sleep, where inadequate sleep duration is expected to increase. Evidence from a 2010 to 2022 meta-analysis showed that people with ideal cardiovascular health experienced a 74 percent lower risk of cardiovascular disease events compared with those with poor cardiovascular health.
Nicotine exposure remains a major concern. People who smoke have a mortality risk three times higher than those who have never smoked. While smoking prevalence among adults in the United States has declined, the use of e-cigarettes has increased sharply. National Health Interview Survey data from 2017 to 2023 indicate that e-cigarette use has quadrupled over this period.
Physical activity and sleep health
Levels of physical activity remain suboptimal across age groups and regions. Only one in five children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 years achieved at least 60 minutes of daily physical activity. Globally, around one-third of adults across 163 countries did not meet recommended activity levels.
Sleep health has emerged as a significant cardiovascular risk factor. Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey covering 2017 to 2020 showed that 30 percent of adults experienced at least one hour of sleep debt, defined as the difference between sleep duration on workdays and free days. Observational analyses linked poor sleep with higher odds of type 2 diabetes, hypercholesterolaemia, and hypertension.
Obesity, lipids, blood pressure, and diabetes
Obesity prevalence continues to rise among both children and adults in the United States. Estimates from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors study indicated that in 2021 more than 15 million children aged 5 to 14 years, 21 million young people aged 15 to 24 years, and 172 million adults aged 25 years or older were living with overweight or obesity.
While the prevalence of high total cholesterol has decreased, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol remains a major driver of cardiovascular mortality. Global data from 2021 attributed a cardiovascular disease mortality rate of 43.7 per 100,000 people to elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.
Hypertension prevalence remained broadly stable between 2013 and 2023. However, blood pressure control worsened, declining from 54.1 percent in 2013 to 2014 to 48.3 percent in 2017 to 2020. Some improvement was observed among non-Hispanic Black adults between 2017 to 2020 and 2021 to 2023.
Diabetes prevalence also remains high. Between 2021 and 2023, an estimated 29.5 million adults had diagnosed diabetes, 96 million had prediabetes, and 9.6 million were living with undiagnosed diabetes. Among people with diagnosed diabetes, glycated haemoglobin levels increased significantly from 2017 to 2020 and again from 2021 to 2023, while overall glycaemic control rates declined.
Kidney disease, CKM syndrome, and pregnancy outcomes
The burden of kidney disease has risen markedly over the past two decades. The prevalence of end-stage kidney disease nearly doubled between 2002 and 2019, before stabilising in subsequent years. Across 114 cohort studies, both albuminuria and reduced kidney function were consistently associated with increased risk of kidney failure and mortality.
Data from NHANES between 2011 and 2020 suggest that approximately 90 percent of adults in the United States were in stage 1 or higher of CKM syndrome. People from underrepresented ethnic and racial groups experienced a disproportionately higher burden of advanced CKM stages. More advanced stages were strongly associated with increased cardiovascular disease mortality.
The report also highlights links between cardiometabolic health and pregnancy outcomes. In Japan, pregnant individuals with higher healthy lifestyle scores before pregnancy had around a one-third lower risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes compared with those with the lowest scores. Although maternal mortality rates declined across all ethnic and racial groups between 2021 and 2022, persistent disparities remain.
Cardiovascular disease, stroke, dementia, and congenital conditions
Overall cardiovascular disease prevalence reached nearly 49 percent among adults aged 20 years or older, based on NHANES data from 2021 to 2023. Prevalence increased with age in both women and men. At the population level, stronger adherence to healthy dietary patterns was associated with lower cardiovascular disease risk.
Stroke incidence declined between 1993 and 2015 among both Black and White adults, although rates remained consistently higher in Black populations. Dementia prevalence among older adults decreased between 2011 and 2021, though findings varied depending on study design and population. Evidence from selected intervention studies suggested that high-intensity training may help slow cognitive decline.
Congenital cardiovascular defects were estimated to affect around 1 in 80 babies in high-income regions of North America. Globally, survival into adulthood among people born with congenital heart disease improved substantially between 1990 and 2019. Population-based analyses linked limited prenatal care, neighbourhood deprivation, and air pollution to increased risk of heart defects, poorer outcomes, and delayed diagnosis.
Heart rhythm disorders, cardiac arrest, and heart failure
Heart rhythm disorders and heart failure continue to contribute significantly to cardiovascular morbidity. Atrial fibrillation affected an estimated 10.55 million adults in the United States, representing 4.48 percent of the adult population.
Patterns of cardiac arrest have also shifted. Opioid-related out-of-hospital cardiac arrests accounted for less than 1 percent of cases in 2000 but rose to between 7 percent and 14 percent by 2023. Coronary heart disease prevalence was estimated at 5.2 percent among adults aged 20 years or older between 2021 and 2023. Over the same period, heart failure prevalence increased from 6.7 million people in 2017 to 2020 to 7.7 million in 2021 to 2023.
A growing burden with global implications
Taken together, the 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Report paints a picture of a growing cardiovascular disease burden affecting around half of the adult population. Despite major advances in diagnostics, prevention strategies, and treatment options, ageing populations, widening health inequalities, and rising cardiometabolic risk factors continue to place increasing pressure on healthcare systems.
The report emphasises the need for coordinated, prevention-led approaches that prioritise early intervention and equitable access to care. Without sustained action across policy, healthcare, and community settings, current trends are likely to continue, with profound long-term health and economic consequences.
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Walmart Unveils ‘Better Care Services’ Digital Health Platform to Expand Access to Affordable Care
Key Takeaways:
- Walmart has launched Better Care Services, a new digital health platform designed as a single access point for healthcare services, wellness tools and products.
- The platform connects customers to third-party providers, including urgent care, behavioural health services and Eli Lilly’s LillyDirect telehealth platform.
- The launch is accompanied by price reductions on wellness products, a limited-time telehealth discount and a nationwide in-pharmacy Wellness Event.
A new one-stop digital health destination
Walmart has launched a new digital healthcare platform, Better Care Services, positioning it as a streamlined, one-stop destination intended to help people navigate healthcare and wellness more easily.
In announcing the launch, the company said the platform is “designed to help empower millions of customers to take control of their health journeys with ease, transparency and confidence.” The initiative reflects Walmart’s broader strategy to integrate digital health services with its existing retail, pharmacy and wellness offerings.
Access to third-party care and telehealth services
Better Care Services provides customers with access to a curated network of third-party healthcare providers, with an initial focus on urgent care and behavioural health services. Through the platform, people can connect to providers offering virtual care options aimed at addressing both immediate and ongoing health needs.
The platform also integrates LillyDirect, the direct-to-consumer telehealth platform developed by Eli Lilly. This allows customers to access telehealth services linked to Lilly’s digital health ecosystem through the Walmart interface.
According to a Walmart news release dated 8 January, the company is also introducing a limited-time USD 15 discount on select telehealth services with participating providers. This offer is set to begin on 15 January, reinforcing the company’s emphasis on affordability and access.
AI-powered nutrition and personalised recommendations
Beyond clinical services, Better Care Services includes a nutrition hub that uses artificial intelligence to support people in making food choices aligned with their health goals. The tool provides personalised food and recipe recommendations, drawing on Walmart’s extensive grocery range and existing digital infrastructure.
The inclusion of AI-enabled nutrition support reflects growing interest in digital tools that link dietary guidance with everyday purchasing decisions, particularly within large retail and pharmacy ecosystems.
Removing barriers to care
Kevin Host, Senior Vice President of Health and Wellness and Pharmacy at Walmart, framed the platform as a response to persistent challenges in accessing care.
“We know that when health care feels hard, many people do not get the care they need. We can fix that,” Host said.
“Better Care Services is about making wellness simple and affordable to fit into your life; we are removing barriers so more people can get the care they deserve, right when they need it.”
These comments underline Walmart’s stated aim to reduce complexity, cost and friction within healthcare journeys, particularly for people who may delay or avoid care when systems feel difficult to navigate.
Price reductions and nationwide wellness initiatives
Alongside the digital platform launch, Walmart announced plans to reduce prices on more than 1,000 wellness-focused items, spanning food, supplements and fitness products. The move is intended to complement the digital offering by addressing affordability across both services and everyday health-related purchases.
The company will also host its annual Wellness Event on 24 January at nearly 4,600 Walmart pharmacies nationwide. The in-store event is set to include free health screenings, low-cost immunisations and wellness consultations, further linking digital access with physical pharmacy-based care.
Positioning digital health within retail healthcare
Taken together, Better Care Services, price reductions and in-pharmacy events highlight Walmart’s continued efforts to position itself as a central player in retail-based healthcare. By combining telehealth access, AI-driven nutrition tools, pharmacy services and discounted wellness products, the company is seeking to create a more integrated and accessible healthcare experience for people across the United States.
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GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs Linked to First National Decline in Obesity Rates, Survey Finds
Key Takeaways:
- The U.S. adult obesity rate has dropped from 39.9% to 37% over three years, coinciding with a rapid rise in GLP-1 medication use.
- Over 12% of adults now report taking injectable obesity drugs such as semaglutide or tirzepatide, more than double the proportion from early 2024.
- Experts warn that limited insurance coverage may soon hinder access, potentially reversing progress.
New survey suggests decline in U.S. obesity rates
The proportion of adults living with obesity in the United States has declined for the first time in years, according to a new Gallup National Health and Well-Being Index survey. The findings suggest that the surge in the use of injectable obesity drugs may be driving this shift.
The survey reported that 37% of U.S. adults are currently living with obesity, compared with a peak of 39.9% three years ago. Researchers attribute much of this reduction to the growing uptake of GLP-1 receptor agonists, a class of highly effective weight loss drugs that include semaglutide and tirzepatide.
Use of GLP-1 medications has more than doubled
The number of people using GLP-1-based treatments such as Ozempic and Wegovy (semaglutide), or Zepbound and Mounjaro (tirzepatide), has more than doubled over the past 18 months. According to Gallup, 12.4% of respondents reported using these drugs, up from 5.8% in February 2024, when the organisation first began tracking their use.
GLP-1 receptor agonists, which mimic a naturally occurring hormone that regulates appetite and blood sugar, were first approved for obesity treatment in 2021. Their mechanism of action involves acting on the brain and gut hormones to suppress hunger and slow digestion, helping individuals sustain weight loss.
A watershed in obesity treatment
Experts consider the introduction of GLP-1 receptor agonists to be a landmark in obesity treatment, following decades of limited progress through diet, exercise, and public health campaigns.
Gallup described the new generation of GLP-1 drugs as a “watershed in Americans’ long struggle to address obesity and related diseases.” Despite these advances, the survey also found that diabetes rates have reached a record high: 13.8% of adults reported having been diagnosed by a doctor or nurse. This highlights the scale of ongoing metabolic health challenges even as weight loss interventions improve.
Impact seen most among middle-aged adults and women
The data indicate that the reduction in obesity rates has been most notable among adults aged 40 to 64, a demographic more likely to use GLP-1 medications. Among those aged 50 to 64, obesity prevalence fell by 5.0 percentage points, reaching 42.8%.
The survey also noted differences by sex: women were more likely than men to use these medications and tended to report greater weight loss benefits. This aligns with previous clinical research showing that women are often more proactive in seeking medical support for weight management.
Access and affordability remain key challenges
Despite their effectiveness, access to GLP-1 drugs remains uneven and may worsen in the coming year. Dr Fatima Cody Stanford, an obesity specialist at Harvard University, cautioned that while the correlation between increased access and reduced obesity rates is promising, it may not be sustainable if coverage declines.
“I would say this correlation happened for those that had great coverage, but it’s going to be pulled back,” she said.
Dr Stanford explained that several private insurers – including those covering most of her patients – are planning to stop covering GLP-1 medications as of next year. Without insurance, the cost of injections typically reaches around $500 per month out of pocket, she noted.
Although pharmaceutical companies are developing oral versions that may eventually reduce costs, Dr Stanford warned that these treatments will likely remain unaffordable for many in the short term.
“While drugmakers are working to bring potentially less-expensive pill versions to market, it likely still will put the treatments out of reach for many,” she said.
Slow but significant progress
While the findings do not confirm causation, they offer one of the first indications that the widespread use of GLP-1 receptor agonists could be contributing to measurable declines in obesity prevalence. Public health experts stress, however, that long-term trends will depend heavily on sustained access, equitable prescribing, and broader changes in lifestyle and preventive care.
For now, the data mark a tentative but meaningful turning point in the decades-long fight against obesity in the United States – a shift that could influence obesity strategies worldwide if sustained.
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