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<\/a>\nOver the past two years, GLP-1s have become a common topic of discussion far beyond clinical settings. The number of Americans who personally know someone who has used a GLP-1 for weight loss has increased by double digits in two years (from 21%1<\/sup> to 31%), and nearly half (48%) now view these medications primarily as a weight-loss tool or lifestyle drug rather than as a treatment for chronic disease.<\/p> \nBut despite their growing visibility, many Americans remain hesitant about using GLP-1 medications themselves. Even with the introduction of oral GLP-1 options, most Americans (61%) said they would prefer to change their behavior rather than take a prescription medication for weight loss. Amid growing concerns about cost, side effects, and long-term use, the survey suggests that awareness of GLP-1s has not necessarily translated into widespread acceptance.<\/p> \nVirta Vitals: The GLP-1 Era Report Highlights<\/span><\/b><\/p> \n\u201cWhat stands out in this year\u2019s data is the gap between how visible GLP-1s have become and how willing people are to talk about using them,\u201d said Adam Wolfberg, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Virta Health. \u201cAmericans are seeing these medications everywhere, yet many users remain reluctant to disclose their own use. Ultimately, the question isn\u2019t whether someone uses a GLP-1, it\u2019s whether they are improving their metabolic health in a sustainable way. Nutrition and behavior change remain foundational, whether someone chooses to use a GLP-1 or not.\u201d<\/p> \nIn the first nine months of 2025, major pharmaceutical companies spent more than $700 million advertising GLP-1 medications2<\/sup>, with Eli Lilly spending approximately $34 million on television spots in January 2026.3<\/sup> Yet the 2026 Virta Vitals<\/b><\/a> report suggests that growing awareness of GLP-1s has not necessarily translated into greater willingness to use them.<\/p> \nToday, more than 90% of U.S. adults are affected by chronic metabolic conditions4<\/sup>, including Type 2 diabetes, obesity, fatty liver disease, kidney disease, and cardiovascular disease, contributing an estimated $1 to $1.5 trillion in annual healthcare spending5<\/sup>. Through medical care, personalized nutrition, technology, and tools like GLP-1s, Virta has helped hundreds of thousands of members improve their metabolic health and partners with more than 700 employers, health plans, and government organizations to reverse chronic disease at scale rather than simply manage it.<\/p> \nAbout the Survey<\/b><\/p> \nData Sources & Methodology<\/i>: The 2026 Virta Vitals<\/b><\/a> report is based on a nationally representative online survey of 1,210 U.S. adults ages 18 and older, fielded April 10\u201312, 2026, by Researchscape International and weighted to reflect the U.S. adult population by age, gender, race\/ethnicity, education, and region. The credibility interval for the full sample is approximately \u00b14 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. Year-over-year comparisons are drawn from Virta Vitals I, fielded July 11\u201315, 2024, by Wakefield Research among 1,000 U.S. adults, with a credibility interval of \u00b13.1 percentage points. For more information, view the full 2026 Virta Vitals report at: https:\/\/virtahealth.com\/2026-virta-vitals-report<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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