Public yet to be convinced by weight loss jabs

Amidst widespread discussions about the use of weight-loss injections such as Wegovy, Ozempic, and Mounjaro, a new Ipsos poll sheds light on public awareness, perceptions, and potential usage of such treatments. The survey reveals a mixed picture of familiarity and opinions surrounding these treatments.

• 5 in 10 Britons believe they are overweight or obese: 28% of Britons think they are slightly overweight, 16% that they are overweight, and an additional 7% considering themselves obese.
• Low awareness: Three in ten Britons (30%) report having heard of weight loss injections. Awareness decreases with age, with 44% of 18–34-year-olds familiar compared to just 19% of those aged 55-75. The vast majority (79%) do not personally know anyone who has used these injections.
• Public divided about whether treatment should be offered on the NHS: The public is split on whether the NHS should offer weight loss injections to obese individuals, with 37% in favour and 32% opposed. Support increases among people who consider themselves to be overweight or obese¹.
• Interest in take-up on the NHS far outpaces interest in going private: A quarter of Britons (24%) say they would be likely to use weight loss injections in the future if provided by the NHS.  However, only 7% would likely pay privately in the future for the treatment at a cost of £180-£220 per month. This increases to 46% for the NHS and 17% for privately among people who consider themselves to be obese².

• Mixed opinion on Streeting’s performance overall: Public opinion on the Health Secretary's performance is divided, with 20% saying he is doing a good job, 22% a bad job, and 28% saying neither. 2024 Labour voters are more likely to view his performance positively (33% good job vs. 12% bad job).

Commenting on the findings, Kate Duxbury, Research Director at Ipsos UK said:

Awareness of weight loss injections remains relatively low among the British public, particularly among older demographics. The public is divided on whether the NHS should be offering the jabs to those who are obese, suggesting a debate over the trade-offs between the immediate cost of this service and the potential for a healthier population – though people who are overweight or obese are more supportive of the NHS offering the injections.

Technical note

• Ipsos interviewed a representative sample of 1,076 Online British adults aged 18-75 between October 25th and 28th, 2024.
• Data are weighted to match the profile of the population. All polls are subject to a wide range of potential sources of error.

Footnotes: 

• 1: Please treat results with caution as they are based on a small number of participants (69)
• 2: Please treat results with caution as they are based on a small number of participants (69)