New Survey: GLP-1 Awareness Brings New Views of Obesity
YouGov released some fascinating new survey research on Friday that shows GLP-1 awareness rising sharply and a profound shift in views of obesity as this happens.
Dramatic Growth in Awareness
Two years ago, only 23% of U.S. adults knew “a lot” about semaglutide. Now, that number has grown to 41%. Total awareness is now up to 80%, which sounds a lot like saturation.
Interest is up, too. Among all adults, about 32% either have an interest in taking semaglutide or have already taken it. That number is twice as high among people who describe themselves as “obese” – 64%.
Shifting Views of Obesity
Perhaps the most interesting thing in this polling data is the observation that American adults are now about evenly split in their views of obesity. Slightly more (39%) view obesity as a complex chronic disease, compared to the 38% of respondents who identify it as a problem with self-control. Just a year ago, the percentage viewing it as a complex chronic disease was only 33%.
We recall a time when it would be hard to get anything close to these numbers saying obesity is nothing more than a problem of self-control.
Clearly, this is progress – even though much work remains to overcome biased views about obesity and the people who live with it. If you have any doubt, numbers from this polling on the prejudice people with obesity face should dispel it. The place where they report facing it the most is in healthcare, with 42% of respondents with obesity saying they’ve had such experiences.
Skepticism About Processed Food Dangers?
An interesting side note in this research comes from data on beliefs about healthy behaviors. Regularly drinking water scores the top position, with 84% of U.S. adults saying it “is essential” for health. Eating fruits and vegetables scores pretty well, too, with 72% calling it essential.
But despite all the fear-mongering we hear about processed foods, only 34% of adults say that avoiding them is essential for good health. Maybe vilification of foods that most of us eat doesn’t do much to motivate people.
Click here for the full survey results and here for a description of the findings.
Red Eyes, photograph by Gilles San Martin, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
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August 3, 2025
