A recent poll conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) revealed that 12% of adult Americans have admitted to taking GLP-1 agonists, with 6% currently using these medications. GLP-1 drugs, known for their effectiveness in treating diabetes, obesity, and heart diseases, have contributed to the increasing revenue and market capitalization of pharmaceutical giants Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly.
The survey, which collected responses from 1,500 adults through online and telephone interviews from April 23 to May 1, 2024, also highlighted that 43% of adults with diabetes, 25% of adults with heart disease, and 22% of overweight or obese adults have taken GLP-1s in the past five years. This growing popularity of GLP-1 drugs has coincided with an increase in public awareness, with 32% of adults reporting that they have heard “a lot” about these medications, up from 19% in July 2023.
However, concerns about the affordability of GLP-1s persist, with 54% of respondents finding it difficult to afford these medications. Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy is priced at $1,349 per month, while Eli Lilly’s Zepbound costs slightly over $1,000 per month. This financial burden may explain why only 1% of adults aged 65 and older have acknowledged using GLP-1s for weight loss, as Medicare restrictions on obesity drug coverage could be a deterrent.
Interestingly, six in ten adults believe that Medicare should cover obesity drugs, with support from individuals across political parties. However, the Congressional Budget Office has cautioned that the inclusion of new GLP-1 drugs in Medicare coverage could strain the federal budget. This ongoing debate underscores the complex dynamics surrounding the use and accessibility of GLP-1 medications in the United States.
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