Research reference
A source-backed reference for researchers, writers, and anyone tracking the scale and direction of GLP-1 research. Updated August 15, 2026.
At a glance
GLP-1 research sits within a wider landscape of metabolic research, public-health data, clinical evidence, and changing public use. The figures below are selected for clarity, traceability, and direct citation. Follow the linked source for its definitions, methods, and full context.
01
1 in 8
The World Health Organization reports that more than 1 billion people were living with obesity in 2022, across adults, adolescents, and children.
Source: World Health Organization, Obesity and overweight, December 8, 2025 ↗02
890 million
The same World Health Organization fact sheet reports that 2.5 billion adults were overweight in 2022, including 890 million adults living with obesity.
Source: World Health Organization, Obesity and overweight, December 8, 2025 ↗03
40.3%
This estimate covers adults age 20 and older and comes from measured-height and measured-weight data in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
Source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics, Health E-Stat 111, January 2025 ↗04
9.4%
The CDC's unadjusted estimate was 9.4%. Its age-adjusted estimate for severe obesity was 9.7% for the same period.
Source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics, Data Brief No. 508, September 24, 2024 ↗05
21.1%
The estimate includes 7.0% with severe obesity, based on the CDC's National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data.
Source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics, Health E-Stat 112, January 2025 ↗06
23 states
The CDC also reported that every U.S. state had an adult obesity prevalence of at least 20% in 2023.
Source: CDC, New CDC Data Show Adult Obesity Prevalence Remains High, September 12, 2024 ↗07
2005
The FDA identifies exenatide as the first approved GLP-1 receptor agonist in the United States.
Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, GLP-1 receptor agonist safety update, April 3, 2026 ↗08
12%
KFF's Health Tracking Poll also found that 18% of adults said they had ever taken this type of medication. These are self-reported survey results, not prescription totals.
Source: KFF Health Tracking Poll, November 14, 2025 ↗Method and sources
Statistics are drawn from named public sources published by the World Health Organization, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and KFF. Each figure is presented with the source's own reporting period or publication date.
Definitions vary by source. For example, prevalence estimates use the source's stated age group, geography, and measurement method. Public-opinion figures are survey responses, while regulatory and population figures come from their respective agencies. This page is reviewed on a regular cadence, with stable statistic anchors retained for easy citation.
GLP-123. “GLP-1 Research and Obesity Statistics.” Updated August 15, 2026. https://glp123peptides.com/glp-1-research-statistics
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