AARP Hearing Center
A new kind of prescription drug is dramatically changing the treatment of Type 2 diabetes and obesity, yet a new AARP survey finds many Americans are not familiar with it.
Glucagon-like peptide-1 or GLP-1 medications were first approved for weight loss in 2014 and Wegovy was approved for weight loss in 2021. They have received widespread media attention for their success in managing weight loss and diabetes. Still, 21% of adults say they are not familiar at all with the medication.
Just one in 10 (9%) respondents have taken a GLP-1 medication now or have taken one in the past for either weight loss or Type 2 diabetes. One-third (31%) know of someone who has taken a GLP-1 for weight loss and 22% for Type 2 diabetes.
Obesity is prevalent, affecting 40% of Americans age 20-plus and costing the economy nearly $1.4 trillion a year. More than seven in 10 (71%) adults over age 18 have tried to lose weight, including 83% of women 50-plus, according to an AARP national online survey of more than 3,500 adults in the fall of 2024. Nearly half (48%) of adults 18-plus who have tried to lose weight said they tried a gym membership; 29% use apps to track activity and food.
Attitudes toward weight and medications
Americans’ views of weight and related drugs appear to be nuanced. Nearly eight in 10 (81%) respondents believe that society negatively judges people who are overweight or obese. More adults think obesity is a chronic condition rather than caused by lifestyle choices, but around half agree obesity is caused by lifestyle choices.
Only one-quarter of Americans feel that the public has a negative view of using a GLP-1 for weight loss. While most adults said they are likely to use medications for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and Type 2 diabetes, AARP finds fewer than one in four would take a medication for obesity or overweight.
Cost and other questions
GLP-1 drugs come with a high price tag that are out of reach for many Americans. CNBC reports the average cost of a GLP-1 is $900 to $1,350 per month before insurance coverage and rebates. AARP reports 40% of respondents feel the medication is too expensive and 27% say they could not afford it. About half think the medication should be affordable and covered by insurance.
Around half say they don’t know whether taking GLP-1 drugs for obesity or diabetes is safe and more than half say they need more information about GLP-1 drugs.
Methodology
AARP conducted the national online survey of 3,531 Americans 18 and older in November 2024.
For more information, please contact Laura Mehegan at lmehegan@aarp.org. For media inquiries, please contact External Relations at media@aarp.org.
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