Half of Americans would be interested in a weight loss medication

The Ipsos Consumer Tracker asks Americans questions about culture, the economy and the forces that shape our lives. Here's one thing we learned this week.

Why we asked about weight loss medication: All kinds of businesses are reacting to the hype around new medications that might be useful for losing weight. Note, not all of those medications are actually FDA approved for weight loss (some are only indicated for diabetes, so far) but that’s not stopping influencers and other Americans from taking them to lose weight. Sectors from CPG to food and beverage and quick-serve restaurants to airlines(?) are wondering about the impacts. 

What we found: Roughly four in 10 Americans are considered obese by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than half of Americans would be interested in taking a new “safe and effective” weight loss treatment. One in four would be “very interested.” Interest is slightly higher in women (58%) than men (50%) and even across age and income. Almost everyone (91%) in America agrees obesity is a major health problem today. Two thirds think obesity is a disease (women are more likely to agree). Most (66%) say that new medications show potential to treat obesity, but 58% also think that it can only be controlled with diet and exercise.

More insights from this wave of the Ipsos Consumer Tracker:

Americans learning AI are teaching themselves

More Americans plan to travel for the holidays this year

People care more about the Israel-Hamas war than Trump's latest legal challenges