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The pool is wide for the weight-loss industry in the United States.
At present, CivicScience data indicate that two-thirds of U.S. adults are pursuing weight loss or would like to, with the majority (60%) of weight-loss intenders looking to lose 10 or more pounds.1 Polling also shows that exercise and fitness programs remain the weight-loss method of interest year-over-year, while diet and meal programs such as WeightWatchers are a distant second.
However, interest in using GLP-1 medications for weight loss inched upward since 2023, growing more than 40%, while interest in exercise and fitness fell. Interest in diet/meal programs, diet and fitness apps, supplements/herbs, and elective surgery has also increased since last year, representing an ever-diversifying landscape of weight-loss solutions.
Let Us Know: Would you say you’ve tried a lot of different dieting techniques in order to lose weight?
As awareness of GLP-1 drugs for weight loss has grown – just 1-in-5 Americans have never heard of GLP-1 medications, falling from 1-in-4 at the start of this year – so too have questions about social acceptance surrounding their use.2 Consumers may express increased interest in weight-loss medications like Ozempic and Wegovy, but how many feel using them comes with the added stress of societal stigma, compared to other weight-loss methods or products?
Current data show that a strong majority of U.S. adults (78%) believe that weight in general carries a stigma. Women are far more likely than men to say they ‘strongly’ agree that society judges people based on their weight. And although younger audiences are less likely to agree, 70% of adults under age 30 still feel that weight is a source of judgment today.
Likewise – and perhaps despite the body positivity movement – nearly 50% of Americans say there is more pressure to maintain a certain weight or body type now compared to a decade ago, while just 15% feel there is less pressure.3
While many believe a person’s weight alone can be a source of criticism, so too can taking certain measures to lose weight. A total of 57% of poll respondents (with an opinion on the matter) agreed that society negatively judges those who use GLP-1 drugs for weight loss. GLP-1 users themselves are far more likely to feel judged than those who have never used the medications. Weight-loss goals also play a role – individuals who want to lose 25 lbs. or more are the most likely to feel that there is a stigma attached to using GLP-1 medications for weight loss.
In contrast, 43% said the same about those who use dieting as a weight-loss method. Although dieting is seen as less stigmatizing overall, subscribers to weight-loss programs such as WeightWatchers or Jenny Craig are 30 points more likely to feel there is a negative perception of people who use dieting to lose weight.
Stay up-to-date on more in-depth GLP-1 insights with the monthly CivicScience Ozempic and GLP-1 Consumer Tracker. Get started with a free preview.
Join the Conversation: Do you personally believe there is a stigma around the issue of weight loss?
Many other variables factor into why someone may or may not pursue using GLP-1 drugs for weight loss, including personal health status, cost, insurance coverage, and side effects, but there is something to be said about the stigma surrounding the medications.
Dieting is seen as a less controversial method of weight loss today, while consumer sentiments suggest Ozempic and other GLP-1 medications still have a ways to go until Americans feel they’ve gained broader acceptance by society. Celebrities such as Oprah may help to move the needle in that direction, as well as dieting and weight-loss companies who integrate GLP-1 medications into their programs.
