1 in 10 British women currently using GLP-1s for weight management with 72% considering their use in 2025

GLP-1s (such as Ozempic and Mounjaro) have become a pivotal option for those striving to achieve sustainable weight management outcomes.

A new era for managing obesity and weight loss

2024 saw a rapid adoption and acceptance of GLP-1s medications as an effective and trusted method of weight loss, with recent research from digital weight loss platform Juniper, revealing that at least 1 in 10 women are already using the medication to reduce their weight.

The survey of over 1,000 UK women also revealed a staggering three quarters (72%) of women are now considering turning to GLP-1 medications to help them lose weight in 2025. However, while the majority of women would consider weight loss medication themselves, new research reveals almost a third (31%) have put off starting their weight loss journey due to fear of judgement and the perceived stigma surrounding GLP-1s. This highlights a true gap in perception and reality; with many women concerned about peers’ views and judgement.

Dannica Sanchez, who lost 25kgs on the Juniper programme, commented, ‘When deciding to start my weight loss journey with Juniper, I was initially concerned about what people might say – but the benefits of what I could achieve outweighed this.

My driving force for wanting to lose weight was because of my health – I work for the health service in operating theatres and I didn’t want to become another statistic of someone with a long term condition. For anyone looking to start their weight loss journey this year using GLP1s, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it – the health coaching element of Juniper alongside the medication has revolutionised my relationship with diet, nutrition and exercise and at the end of the day, it’s my life and my health and I did this for me, other people can think what they like, but this programme has changed my life.’

Weighing effectiveness versus shame

The research found that 86% of respondents have tried multiple diet and weight loss programmes to lose weight with over half (55%) having previously committed to one or two different methods and a fifth (22%) admitting to trialling three to five different weight-loss methods. However, despite ambitions, many face barriers to their weight loss journeys. Difficulty maintaining a consistent diet (30%) was noted as the top hurdle, followed by a lack of time for regular exercise (16%) and mental health or motivational challenges (15%).

Despite these efforts and over a third (36%) of respondents noting they would recommend considering GLP-1 to someone struggling with weight loss, 38% believed that individuals who use weight loss medications are often treated differently compared to those who rely solely on diet and exercise. For those who are using these medications, a fifth (21%) said that they feel self-conscious using them.

Those who aren’t already using the medications, when asked how comfortable they would feel using GLP-1s if there was no stigma, almost half (49%) of women would use weight loss medications if there were no stigma, with a quarter (25%) of those saying they would use it without hesitation.

Another factor is the ability of individuals to reach out to friends, family and colleagues about their weight loss journey. Telling others about using weight loss medications like GLP-1s is often difficult for many. Of those surveyed, 35% noted they would be selective about who they tell about their use while 19% would keep it private.

Professor Richard Donnelly, Emeritus Professor in the School of Medicine at the University of Nottingham & a Clinical Advisor at Juniper, “Losing weight is difficult. There is no one-size that fits all. Patients who are motivated to lose weight deserve access to practical support, information & encouragement with individualised treatment plans which include various components. The best results are achieved when ongoing follow-up is provided by a multi-professional healthcare team. Patients should always discuss their treatment options with their usual GP.

“In people who meet appropriate clinical criteria, GLP-1 drugs can facilitate significant weight loss when used under medical supervision and as an adjunct to optimised dietary and lifestyle changes. They are generally well tolerated and effective but individual patient experiences can vary. In real-world settings, GLP-1 therapy often results in 10-15% body weight loss over a year.

“The NHS and NICE are carefully assessing the clinical and cost-effectiveness of GLP-1 drugs in different patient groups. At present, it would seem that NHS treatment is only available to a limited number of high-risk patients who already have weight-related health complications.”