Obesity: who’s responsible and are weight loss drugs the answer?

By 2050, 214 million Americans are predicted to be overweight or obese, according to a recent study from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington.  

With this in mind, we surveyed 1,000 nationally representative US adults to better understand public perceptions around causes and responsibilities for obesity. We asked what responsibility food manufacturers and retailers bear, how consumers feel about government proposals to regulate the food industry, and explored attitudes towards semaglutide weight loss drugs (e.g. Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro) as a potential long-term solution. 

Quick summary

• 81% of Americans are concerned about their weight
• Personal behaviors are seen as the primary contributors to obesity
• A majority of Americans support government intervention in food policy
• 36% of consumers view weight-loss injections as a potential solution
• Making healthy foods more affordable is deemed the best way forward

The majority of consumers are concerned about their weight 

In our survey, we found that over 4 in 5 (81%) of respondents had some concern about their weight in general with more than a third (35%) reporting that they are very or extremely concerned. This concern is seen across consumers of all ages and genders, showing this is a universal problem [view full data].

When asked about the primary causes of rising obesity rates, more than 1 in 2 (52%) cited a lack of physical activity, closely followed by poor individual dietary choices (47%). While external influences such as food brands promoting unhealthy products (23%) and socioeconomic factors (10.7%) were recognized, personal behaviors were seen as the dominant contributors. 

This perspective aligns with views on responsibility for tackling obesity, with the majority (44%) believing individuals bear the most responsibility for addressing weight loss, while only 9% place primary responsibility on food and beverage companies. 

However, more than 1 in 3 (36%) recognize that effective solutions require a combination of individual, corporate, government, and healthcare provider efforts with women selecting this significantly higher than men. 

This gendered difference acknowledges the complex nature of obesity as both a personal and public health challenge.

Consumers support government intervention

Despite the emphasis on individual responsibility, a majority of Americans support government intervention in food policy:

• 54% agree / strongly agree that the government should implement stronger regulations on unhealthy food marketing
• 81% support banning harmful food additives and removing ultra-processed foods from school cafeterias
• 58% support restrictions on purchasing sugary and processed foods with SNAP benefits

This seeming contradiction suggests respondents value personal choice while recognizing the need for structural support to make healthy choices more accessible.

Mixed perceptions of semaglutide drugs

Public awareness of GLP-1 weight loss drugs is relatively high, with more than 4 in 5 (86%) of respondents having at least heard of these drugs. 

However, perceptions of these drugs are mixed. While 29% see them as ‘effective’, more than 1 in 3 (35%) consider them ‘risky’ and only 1 in 10 (11%) would describe semaglutide drugs as ‘life saving’. Interestingly, gendered differences emerge with women driving the perceptions of weight loss drugs as expensive and dangerous. 

This skepticism is further reflected in opinions on their long-term effectiveness – only 12% deem them highly effective, while half (51%) remain uncertain. Interestingly, those that stated they were extremely or very concerned about their weight are less uncertain and are more likely to view GLP-1 drugs as effective.

The debate extends to accessibility and insurance coverage. Half of respondents (51%) agreed that semiglutides should be more widely accessible and covered by insurance, while 36% were neutral. This ambivalence highlights the tension between excitement over pharmaceutical advancements and concerns about cost, effectiveness, and long-term impact. Again those that are more concerned about their weight are more likely to agree weight loss jabs should be more widely accessible. 

Access to healthy food seen as the most effective solution to obesity

When asked about the most effective strategy for reducing obesity rates, more than half (51%) of respondents favored making healthy foods more affordable. This far surpasses other solutions like public health campaigns (20%), stronger government regulations (13%), and increased access to medical treatments (11%). 

This finding reinforces the notion that while individual choices matter, structural factors, such as food affordability, play a crucial role in enabling healthier lifestyles. In conclusion, brands and retailers that can help increase the accessibility of healthy food and beverages can play a key role in providing a solution to the obesity crisis.