Gen Z is skipping the gym and turning to weightloss drugs — leading the Ozempic craze

Gen Z is turning into Gen Ozempic.

A new survey reveals that many young Americans are planning to turn to weight loss medications, such as Ozempic and Wegovy, to help achieve their goals.

More than a quarter of Americans are considering these drugs as part of their weight loss strategy, according to Tebra, a digital healthcare platform.

The trend is especially noticeable among younger generations.

Gen Z is leading the way, with 37% planning to give up the gym for the pharmacy to use GLP-1 medications to achieve their weight loss goals in the upcoming year. 

Along with a generational divide, there’s also a gender gap.

Women are more likely than men to choose these drugs, with 30% of women compared to 20% of men saying they’ll rely on them. Women also have higher weight loss targets, aiming to lose an average of 23 pounds, while men plan to lose 19 pounds.

The disparity comes as no surprise as women have consistently been more likely than men to say they are overweight since 1999, according to Gallup, and commonly face more judgement regarding their bodies than men do.

Despite the growing interest and apparent common use of these medications, many Americans still see them as out of reach due to high costs. In fact, 64% of those interested in using them note cost as their biggest concern, followed by worries about side effects (59%).

These weight loss medications, initially intended to treat type 2 diabetes, can cost thousands of dollars and lead to a long list of potential dangerous side effects — and even death — yet a large majority (86%) say the benefits are worth the risks.

Which is likely why 66% of Americans now believe these medications are more effective than traditional weight loss methods like diet and exercise.

And although Gen Z is the most interested in taking these drugs, older generations are are actually more confident in their effectiveness.

Baby boomers are the most convinced, with 72% believing these medications work better than traditional methods. Gen X follows closely behind at 70%, while millennials and Gen Z are less certain. There’s also another noticeable gender gap, with 75% of women believing in their effectiveness compared to 53% of men.

As more people become enticed to use these medications for weight loss, some have turned to dangerous methods including buying counterfeit drugs and using them without the guidance of a medical professional.

Worries about addiction and proper medical guidance remain significant barriers to widespread adoption.  

The increasing popularity of GLP-1 drugs may be linked to the frustration many people feel after repeatedly failing to meet weight loss goals. Nearly half of Americans have given up on their New Year’s resolutions in the past, with some quitting as early as February — when many give up on their New Year’s goals.

Regardless of the potential health benefits and the seemingly endless praise for the results online, all GLP-1 medications should only be used by individuals who have been prescribed them by a medical professional.