Axios-Ipsos poll finds cost ranks low among reasons Americans skip weight-loss drugs

About 18% of U.S. adults say they or someone in their immediate circle has taken a prescription weight-loss drug in the last three months, according to an Axios-Ipsos poll conducted March 6–9, 2026 ^[1]. The same survey found that cost is a minor reason most people who have not tried the drugs give for staying away ^[1].

The American Health Index poll was based on a nationally representative probability sample of 1,225 adults age 18 or older, with a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 2.9 percentage points at the 95% confidence level for results based on the full sample ^[1].

Among people who have not tried the medications, 15% said they are interested in a weight-loss injection and 21% said they are interested in a pill ^[1]. Even so, only 16% of those who described themselves as not very or not at all interested cited expense as the reason ^[1]. That result lands as insurance coverage of GLP-1 drugs remains spotty and list prices for the medications exceed $1,000 a month, with many people making cash purchases for less ^[1].

The reasons people gave for not wanting a pill or an injection were led by a preference for managing weight through diet and exercise, at 51%, followed by concerns about side effects, at 38%. About a third, 33%, said they are not trying to lose weight ^[1].

Familiarity with the newest option is limited. The poll found 39% of respondents said they were very or somewhat familiar with the new Wegovy pill from Novo Nordisk ^[1]. The survey also found that obesity remains the top health threat in the United States, as it has since late 2024, ahead of mental health issues, opioids and fentanyl, and cancer ^[1].

Why it matters for patients

The poll suggests the biggest brakes on wider use are not price tags but beliefs about weight management and worries about side effects ^[1]. For patients already weighing whether to start a GLP-1 drug, that context cuts two ways. Price is not the only barrier, but it is still a real one for the people who do cite it, and coverage varies by insurer and plan, with list prices above $1,000 a month and lower cash prices available ^[1]. Side-effect concerns were the second-most-cited reason for staying away, at 38%, which is roughly two in five of the people who said they were not interested ^[1].

The finding that 39% are familiar with the oral Wegovy option means most adults have heard little or nothing about it ^[1]. Whether an oral version changes how many people start treatment is not answered by this survey ^[1].

What is not known yet

The poll does not report why people who said they are interested have not started, what share of adults are currently taking a GLP-1 drug, or what the new Wegovy pill costs. No timeline for price changes or insurance coverage decisions appears in the report ^[1]. Axios writes that new pricing deals and aggressive marketing “will only go so far” if most of the public believes it can manage its weight, worries about side effects or is simply not interested in losing weight ^[1].

Methodology details beyond the sample size and margin of error, including subgroup breakdowns by income or insurance status, have not been disclosed ^[1].