Axios-Ipsos poll: Cost isn't discouraging GLP-1 use

Use of prescription weight-loss drugs like Wegovy and Mounjaro may be reaching new highs, but most Americans who haven't tried yet say they're not very interested and aren't being held back by the cost.

Why it matters: New pricing deals and aggressive marketing will only go so far if the majority of the public is convinced it can manage its weight, is worried about side effects or is just not interested in shedding pounds.

By the numbers: Nearly 1 in 5 Americans (18%) say they or someone in their immediate circle has taken weight-loss drugs in the last three months, according to the Axios-Ipsos American Health Index survey of 1,225 adults conducted March 6-9.

• Millions more remain interested: Of those who haven't tried, 15% say they're interested in a weight-loss injection and 21% in a pill.
• The new Wegovy pill from Novo Nordisk is still relatively unknown, with 39% saying they're very or somewhat familiar.

Yes, but: Just 16% of those not very or not at all interested cited the expense as the reason.

• That's significant, with insurance coverage of GLP-1s still spotty and list prices for the drugs exceeding $1,000 a month. Many people are making cash purchases for less.
• Those not interested in a pill or injection say their top reasons are preferring to manage their weight through diet and exercise (51%) and concerns about side effects (38%). Also, 33% say they are not trying to lose weight.

The Axios-Ipsos survey found obesity remains the top U.S. health threat, as it has since late 2024, ahead of mental health issues, opioids and fentanyl, and cancer.

Methodology: This Axios/Ipsos Poll was conducted March 6-9, 2026, by Ipsos' KnowledgePanel®. This poll is based on a nationally representative probability sample of 1,225 general population adults age 18 or older.

• The margin of sampling error is +/-2.9 percentage points at the 95% confidence level, for results based on the entire sample of adults.