Almost 12% of Americans used GLP-1 drugs for weight loss, including about one fifth of women aged 50 to 64, according to a new RAND report.
Studying a nationally representative sample of 8,793 Americans, the researchers found that 11.8% used GLP-1 fighters and 14% said they were interested in using drugs. In the meantime, 74% say they are not planning to take medicines.
Among those who have used GLP-1 drugs, about half of the report have experienced nausea and about one third experienced diarrhea-the two most common side effects of medicines.
The report is the latest and largest research to date that it appreciates how many Americans have used medicines that have revolutionized weight loss. The report describes the use of GLP-1 drugs both from age and gender.
The use of ozempic and other GLP-1 drugs has increased sharply in recent years, as studies have shown that medicines can help people greatly help weight loss. By 2020, the number of drug prescriptions has tripled.
RAND researchers watched participants in the Rand American Life team to ask about the use of GLP-1 drugs and their experiences with side effects. The survey was conducted in April and May 2025.
The results show that women tend to use GLP-1 drugs at higher rates than men, although there is significant variability within age groups.
The use of GLP-1 drugs is the most common among those aged 50 and 64 years, with the highest rate of use among women in the age group. Among these 65 years or older, the use of GLP-1 drugs is somewhat higher for men than for women. In contrast, among those aged 30 and 49, women are more than twice as likely to have used a GLP-1 by their male peers.
The Rand American Life Panel is a research table based on a probability of approximately 11,000 active, regularly 12 -year -olds and over. The table was developed by RAND in 2006.
Exhibition “New Weight Loss Drugs: Use Fighter and GLP-1 Side effects in the United States” is available in www.rand.org. Authors of the exhibition are Robert Bozick, Shannon Donofry and Katherine M. Rancaño.
The publication is the first in what is planned to be a series of brief reports that highlight the descriptive findings of Topline from the surveys conducted in the Rand American Life team.
The RAND Education and Labor Department is dedicated to improving education and expanding financial opportunities for all research and analysis.
Source:
Magazine report:
Bozick, R., et al. (2025) New weight loss drugs. Use of militant and GLP-1 side effects in the United States. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/rra4153-1.html.
