In the U.S. where adoption is highest, fewer than 1 in 10 adults are on a GLP-1 drug, despite nearly three-quarters being overweight or obese. Globally access is even more limited, held back by high costs, strict coverage requirements and supply shortages.

Next-generation weight-loss pills could hit the market in the coming months, with new data raising a key question: Will patients embrace a more convenient alternative to injecting themselves, even if it means losing less weight?

By Dennis Thompson HealthDay ReporterFRIDAY, Aug. 8, 2025 (HealthDay News) — More than 1 in 10 Americans have used a GLP-1 drug for weight loss, a new survey by the RAND research group reveals. About 12% say they’ve tried GLP-1 drugs, like Ozempic, Wegovy or Zepbound, with rates of use highest among people ages 50 to 64, survey results show.