The Growing Landscape of GLP-1 Drugs: How Many People are on Them?

Last reviewed: June 6, 2026

Last updated: June 6, 2026

Written by: Jay Hastings, CEO of PlexusDx

Jay Hastings is the CEO of PlexusDx, a precision health company focused on genetic testing, blood biomarker insights, and personalized wellness recommendations. He has more than 20 years of experience across healthcare innovation, genomics, laboratory operations, healthcare investing, and strategic finance.

Medically reviewed by: Jayden Lee, PharmD, EMBA

Jayden Lee, PharmD, EMBA, is the PlexusDx Medical Science Liaison with a PharmD and MBA specializing in pharmacogenomics and clinical product development, with a proven ability to bridge the gap between genomic research and practical patient outcomes. Dr. Lee has more than 10 years of professional experience in clinical pharmacy, academia, and research.

There is no single national register of GLP-1 users, so every number you see is an estimate from a survey or a claims database — but the best-quality estimates all point the same way. A 2025 NCHS Data Brief using the 2024 National Health Interview Survey found that 26.5% of U.S. adults with diagnosed diabetes were using an injectable GLP-1 receptor agonist at the time of interview. A separate 2025 RAND analysis reports that prescriptions for GLP-1 agonists have more than tripled since 2020. That is a class moving from specialist prescribing into general medical practice inside five years.

What the Federal Survey Data Show

The NCHS analysis drew on the 2024 National Health Interview Survey and treated respondents as GLP-1 injectable users if they had diabetes and reported using an injectable medication other than insulin to lower blood sugar or lose weight. Overall, 26.5% of adults with diagnosed diabetes met that definition.

Use was not uniform. It rose from 25.3% among adults aged 18 to 34 to 33.3% among those aged 50 to 64, then fell to 20.8% among adults 65 and older. Hispanic adults (31.3%), Black non-Hispanic adults (26.5%) and White non-Hispanic adults (26.2%) with diagnosed diabetes were more likely to be using these medications than Asian non-Hispanic adults (12.1%).

Use also rose with body mass index, and was higher among those taking insulin (31.3%) or oral glucose-lowering medications (28.1%). Note the scope: this estimate covers adults with diagnosed diabetes and injectable products only. It does not capture weight-management use in people without diabetes, nor oral products.

Why the Numbers Vary So Much Between Sources

Different studies measure different things. Some count prescriptions dispensed, some count people with at least one fill in a year, some count current users at a point in time, and some rely on self-report in a survey. Those definitions produce very different totals from the same underlying reality.

Population matters too. An estimate restricted to adults with diagnosed diabetes is not comparable to one covering all adults, and an estimate of injectable use excludes the oral products that now include Rybelsus, Ozempic tablets, Wegovy tablets and Foundayo.

Timing matters most of all in a category changing this quickly. A figure from 2022 describes a different market from one gathered in 2025, which is why undated statistics circulating on the internet should be treated with suspicion.

The Approved Landscape Has Widened Substantially

On the diabetes side: Ozempic holds three type 2 diabetes indications — glycemic control, cardiovascular risk reduction in patients with established cardiovascular disease, and reduction of kidney outcomes in chronic kidney disease. Mounjaro holds a glycemic control indication. Rybelsus and Ozempic tablets share a label covering glycemic control and cardiovascular risk reduction.

On the weight side: Wegovy covers weight reduction and long-term maintenance in adults and adolescents 12 and older with obesity and in adults with overweight plus a comorbid condition, cardiovascular risk reduction, and noncirrhotic MASH with moderate to advanced fibrosis under accelerated approval. Wegovy tablets, approved December 22, 2025, carry a narrower subset.

Zepbound covers chronic weight management and moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity. Foundayo (orforglipron), approved April 1, 2026, added an oral small-molecule option for chronic weight management.

What Is Driving the Growth

Effect size is the first driver. STEP 1 reported a mean weight change of −14.9% versus −2.4% with placebo over 68 weeks, and SURMOUNT-1 reported −15.0%, −19.5% and −20.9% versus −3.1% over 72 weeks. Nothing in previous weight management pharmacotherapy was in that range.

Outcome data is the second. The cardiovascular outcomes trial reported in the Wegovy label showed a primary composite endpoint of 6.5% with semaglutide versus 8% with placebo, hazard ratio 0.80 (95% CI 0.72 to 0.90), across 8,801 and 8,803 participants. That moved the conversation from cosmetic to cardiometabolic.

The third is distribution. Telehealth intake, direct-to-patient dispensing and cash-pay routes removed several access barriers at once, which is also why the category has attracted the regulatory attention it has.

What the Growth Curve Hides

Discontinuation is high. A substantial share of people who begin a GLP-1 receptor agonist stop within a year, driven by cost, coverage changes, supply interruptions and adverse effects. A point-in-time prevalence figure counts current users and therefore understates how many people have ever tried the class.

That matters clinically, not just commercially. Randomised withdrawal trials across the class consistently show substantial weight regain after discontinuation, and cardiometabolic improvements tend to reverse alongside it.

The unapproved segment is invisible in these figures entirely. The FDA has warned about counterfeit Ozempic, illegally marketed semaglutide and tirzepatide, and products falsely labeled "for research purposes" or "not for human consumption" sold directly to consumers with dosing instructions.

Where This Is Heading

The direction of approvals suggests the population will keep widening: sleep apnea, liver disease, cardiovascular risk and kidney outcomes are all now inside labeled indications for one product or another, and none of those is a weight claim.

Oral formulations change the profile again. Foundayo is a small molecule rather than a peptide, and Wegovy tablets brought an oral option into the weight-management category for the first time. Manufacturing constraints differ substantially between peptides and small molecules.

What has not changed is the fundamentals. These remain prescription medications with boxed warnings, labeled contraindications and real adverse effects, and the decision to start one belongs to a clinician who knows your history.

How Your Genetics Relate to GLP-1 Pathways

Not everyone responds to GLP-1 medications the same way. Genetic variants — including GIPR rs1800437, FTO rs9939609, and MC4R rs17782313 — relate to the biological pathways these medications act on. These are pathway-level associations only and do not predict how much weight you will lose or how you will respond to any specific medication. PlexusDx maps 14 pathways, 49 peptides, and 150+ genetic insights so you and your provider can see how your genes relate to these pathways. It does not recommend, prescribe, or determine which medication, dose, or peptide is right for you. The PlexusDx Precision Peptide Genetic Test ($298) gives you and your provider pathway-level genetic context to support a more personalized conversation. Genetics is a guide, not a guarantee.

Access Personalized GLP-1 Care Through PlexusDx

PlexusDx offers seven prescription GLP-1 protocols to all 50 states — no membership, no insurance required, async intake or live consult. The Semaglutide Injection is $189/mo month-to-month, or from $149/mo on the 6-month plan. Medications are dispensed from licensed 503A compounding pharmacies following strict quality and safety standards. Add a Precision Peptide Genetic Test for $298 to personalize your protocol from day one.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Americans are taking GLP-1 medications?

There is no single national register, so all figures are estimates. The best federal estimate available is from a 2025 NCHS Data Brief using the 2024 National Health Interview Survey, which found 26.5% of U.S. adults with diagnosed diabetes were using an injectable GLP-1 receptor agonist at the time of interview. That figure excludes people without diabetes and excludes oral products.

Why do published estimates differ so widely?

Because they measure different things. Some count prescriptions dispensed, others count people with any fill in a year, others count current users at a point in time, and some rely on self-report. Population scope differs too — adults with diagnosed diabetes versus all adults — as does timing, which matters enormously in a category whose prescription volume has more than tripled since 2020.

Which age group uses these medications most?

In the 2024 National Health Interview Survey analysis of adults with diagnosed diabetes, use rose from 25.3% among those aged 18 to 34 to 33.3% among those aged 50 to 64, then declined to 20.8% among adults 65 and older. Use was also higher among those with greater body mass index and among those taking insulin or oral glucose-lowering medications.

Are most people staying on these medications long term?

No. A substantial share discontinue within the first year, driven by cost, coverage changes, supply interruptions and adverse effects. That matters clinically because randomised withdrawal trials across this class consistently show substantial weight regain after discontinuation, with cardiometabolic improvements reversing alongside it. Point-in-time prevalence figures do not capture this churn.

Does the growth include unapproved products?

Published prevalence estimates generally do not capture them. The FDA has warned about counterfeit Ozempic, illegally marketed semaglutide and tirzepatide sold online, and products falsely labeled "for research purposes" or "not for human consumption" that are sold directly to consumers with dosing instructions. The agency urges consumers not to purchase these products, whose quality is unknown.

Medical and Editorial Standards

Medical review process: This article was reviewed for medical accuracy, scientific clarity, evidence alignment, and appropriate discussion of genetics, medications, supplements, biomarkers, and health-related claims.

Sources and evidence: PlexusDx educational content is developed using peer-reviewed research, clinical literature, reputable medical references, and, where applicable, public health or regulatory guidance.

Commercial transparency: PlexusDx offers genetic testing, blood biomarker testing, personalized supplement recommendations, and related precision wellness services. Product mentions are intended to help readers understand available options and should not be interpreted as medical advice.

Important disclaimer: PlexusDx educational content is for informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about medications, supplements, genetic testing, lab testing, or health-related care.