Which Age Group Is Happiest Taking a GLP-1 Drug?

Age — or more specifically, the generation you fit into — has a significant effect on how GLP-1 drugs are used for losing and managing weight.

Everyday Health surveyed 858 people with or without an obesity diagnosis, many of whom were on GLP-1s, and found that age was a powerful factor in nearly every finding. Age affected who was taking the medications the most and for how long, who was getting help to manage lifestyle changes, and how satisfied they were with their treatment.

Here’s what the survey revealed — and what health experts say we can learn from the results.

According to the survey, GLP-1 medication use is more common among Gen Z than older generations. Indeed, 60 and 45 percent of the Gen Z and millennial respondents with obesity, respectively, said they were currently taking a GLP-1 medication, while 37 percent of Gen X and 42 percent of baby boomers said they were.

Various factors may be responsible for the generational divide, says Devika Umashanker, MD, the system director of medical weight loss at the Hartford HealthCare Digestive Health Institute in Hartford, Connecticut. “Younger adults are generally more accustomed to learning about health and treatment options through digital platforms, social media, and online communities, where GLP-1 medications have received considerable attention,” she says.

In addition, social media and celebrities may play into boosting interest among younger generations, says Nneoma Oparaji, MD, a physician in Houston who is board-certified in internal medicine, obesity medicine, and lifestyle medicine. “Social media has educated many people on how obesity is not a failure of willpower. And celebrities or other people they admire are being more vulnerable in how they’re using GLP-1s. It can help remove the psychological barriers to considering treatment,” she says.

Among millennials, 58 percent said they viewed GLP-1s as a temporary tool, whereas 46 percent of baby boomers agreed with that statement. In contrast, 54 percent of baby boomers said they viewed the medication as a long-term solution, versus 42 percent of millennials. In this respect, the older generation’s approach more accurately reflects what we know about obesity today.

“Based on current research, GLP-1 medications should be considered long-term therapies rather than short-term treatment, as most patients experience some degree of weight regain after discontinuation,” says Umashanker.

Treating GLP-1s as a long-term therapy is in line with the emerging view of obesity as a whole. “Over the last decade, the medical community has come to understand that obesity is a chronic disease, and like other chronic diseases, it most often requires long-term medication management,” says Kimberly Gudzune, MD, MPH, an obesity medicine physician and affiliate faculty at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She says this is similar to how we view treating chronic conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes, which also require long-term medication management.

This message is slowly making its way to the public. “It’s reassuring that many people are seeing GLP-1s as a long-term treatment, although the results also suggest that we still have more education to do,” Dr. Gudzune says.

GLP-1 medications are designed to be taken alongside lifestyle changes like a nutritious, balanced diet with plenty of high-quality protein and fiber, as well as regular exercise that includes strength training. That can be easier said than done. Younger generations, the survey revealed, are more likely than older individuals to turn to nutrition counseling and digital health apps for this kind of lifestyle support.

These tools can help regardless of GLP-1 use. “GLP-1-based therapies are effective medical treatments, but medication alone does not address every aspect of obesity care,” says Umashanker. Nutrition counseling is valuable to help people get adequate nutrients, preserve lean muscle mass, and establish sustainable healthy eating habits, while digital health apps can assist with self-monitoring so you can stay on track with your goals, she says.

Although GLP-1s have transformed obesity treatment, they are not right for everyone, and not everyone is happy taking them. The survey reported lower satisfaction among Gen X and baby boomers, while Gen Z and millennials reported higher satisfaction on these medications. Overall, younger patients say they have a more positive GLP-1 experience.

“I suspect that the lower satisfaction among the older generations may be related to their experiences with side effects,” says Gudzune. “This survey found that older generations were more likely to report experiencing side effects, which can decrease satisfaction with treatment,” she says. If you are taking medications to manage other chronic illnesses, it’s also possible to experience medication interactions — and additional challenges — when adding a GLP-1 to your treatment plan, Gudzune says. Talk to your prescriber about how to manage side effects and medication interactions; they may be able to help you stay on a GLP-1.

Source: Everyday Health Obesity/Weight Loss GLP-1 Patient Survey, N= 858, Aug. 5-15, 2026.