62% of adults who have taken GLP-1 drugs did so to manage a chronic condition, while 38% used them primarily for weight loss.
About half (54%) of all adults who have taken GLP-1 drugs found it difficult to afford the cost, with one in five (22%) reporting that it was 'very difficult'.
GLP-1 drugs are increasingly popular for managing chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease, as well as for weight loss.
Older adults aged 65 and above were particularly affected by affordability issues.
One in eight adults (12%) in the United States have taken GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic or Mounjaro at some point in their lives.
Six in ten adults believe that Medicare policy should cover the cost of GLP-1 drugs when prescribed for weight loss for people who are clinically overweight.
One in eight adults (12%) in the United States have taken GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic or Mounjaro at some point in their lives, according to recent surveys from KFF and Everyday Health. These medications are increasingly popular for managing chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease, as well as for weight loss.
The latest data from the KFF Health Tracking Poll shows that 62% of adults who have taken GLP-1 drugs did so to manage a chronic condition, while 38% used them primarily for weight loss. Among those with diabetes or heart disease, the percentage is even higher: 94% of adults with diabetes and 75% of adults with heart disease reported taking these drugs for their respective conditions.
Despite their widespread use, affordability remains a significant issue. About half (54%) of all adults who have taken GLP-1 drugs found it difficult to afford the cost, with one in five (22%) reporting that it was 'very difficult'. Older adults aged 65 and above were particularly affected: only 1% of this age group reported taking GLP-1 drugs for weight loss, likely due to Medicare's lack of coverage for prescription drugs used specifically for weight management.
The popularity and high costs of these medications have led to intermittent shortages, with demand outpacing supply. Six in ten adults believe that Medicare policy should cover the cost of GLP-1 drugs when prescribed for weight loss for people who are clinically overweight. However, current federal policy prohibits Medicare from covering prescription drugs used solely for weight loss.
Adults are obtaining these medications from various sources: 79% report getting them or a prescription for them from their primary care doctor or a specialist, while others turn to online providers (11%), medical spas (10%), or other sources (2%).
Google's new AI model AlphaFold 3 can illustrate the complex interactions and structures of all of life’s molecules, including DNA, RNA, proteins, and small molecules used in drugs.
AlphaFold 3 predicts the shapes and behaviors of large biomolecules such as proteins at least 50% better than other existing methods.
Accuracy
About 1 in 8 adults in the US has used a GLP-1 drug at some point.
Half of those Americans, or around 6% of US adults, are currently using one of the treatments.
Around 18% of Black adults have taken one of the drugs, 14% of Hispanic adults have used them, and roughly 10% of white adults have taken one.
Nearly 20% of adults ages 50 to 64 said they have taken a GLP-1 before.
Younger adults were more likely than those 65 and above to report taking a GLP-1 specifically for weight loss.
Google’s new AI model AlphaFold 3 can illustrate the complex interactions and structures of all of life’s molecules, including DNA, RNA, proteins, and small molecules used in drugs.
Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis believes AlphaFold 3 has the potential to be transformative for biological research.
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(95%)
The article contains some instances of appeals to authority and dichotomous depictions, but overall the authors provide accurate information and do not make any egregious logical errors. The data presented in the article comes from a reputable source (KFF) and is supported by statistics. However, there are a few instances where the authors make assumptions or oversimplify complex issues without providing sufficient context or evidence.
][The treatments have skyrocketed in popularity over the last year despite their high costs and limited insurance coverage.][] This statement implies that the only reason people are taking GLP-1 drugs is because of their high costs and limited insurance coverage, which is an oversimplification. The authors do not provide any evidence to support this claim.
[Black and Hispanic adults in the U.S. have a higher rate of obesity than white adults, according to KFF’s analysis of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data.]
One in eight adults (12%) have ever taken a GLP-1 agonist.
Most adults who have taken GLP-1 drugs did so to treat a chronic condition including diabetes or heart disease (62%).
About half (54%) of all adults who have taken GLP-1 drugs found it difficult to afford the cost, with one in five (22%) finding it ‘very difficult’.
Eight percent of adults ages 65 and older have taken a GLP-1 medication for a chronic condition. Only one percent have taken it to lose weight.
Six in ten adults think Medicare should cover the cost of GLP-1 drugs when prescribed for weight loss for people who are overweight.
Accuracy
]1 in 8 adults have ever taken a GLP-1 agonist[
About four in ten adults who have been told they have diabetes, a quarter who have been told they have heart disease, and one in five (22%) who have been told by a doctor that they are overweight or obese in the past five years have taken GLP-1 drugs.
Public awareness of GLP-1 drugs has increased to one-third (32%) of adults.
Most adults who have used GLP-1 drugs got them from a primary care doctor or a specialist.
About 11% of adults got their GLP-1 drugs from an online provider or website.
About 10% of adults got their GLP-1 drugs from a medical spa or aesthetic medical center.
Accuracy
1 in 8 adults in the US have used a GLP-1 drug like Ozempic or Mounjaro.
About 2 in 5 adults used GLP-1 drugs solely for weight loss.
Deception
(50%)
The article contains selective reporting as it focuses on the use of GLP-1 drugs for weight loss without mentioning that they are primarily used to manage chronic conditions such as diabetes or heart disease. The author also uses emotional manipulation by implying that the high cost and limited supply of these drugs make them inaccessible, creating a sense of urgency and concern.
About 2 in 5 adults used GLP-1 drugs solely to lose weight, the KFF poll found.
Amid high costs and limited supply, some adults may seek alternatives to the highly sought-after drugs.
Fallacies
(90%)
The article contains some inflammatory rhetoric and appeals to authority, but no formal fallacies were found. The author states that Medicare prohibits coverage of prescription weight-loss drugs (appeal to authority) and mentions the high cost of GLP-1 drugs as an issue, which may make the statement inflammatory. However, these instances do not constitute a significant enough deviation from logical reasoning to warrant a lower score.
High cost makes diabetes drugs inaccessible
Patients should only obtain drugs containing semaglutide with a prescription from a licensed health care provider, and only obtain medicines from state-licensed pharmacies or outsourcing facilities registered with FDA
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