WASHINGTON, D.C. — Five lifestyle factors are strongly linked to perceptions of how well GLP-1 medications work for weight loss, according to a new Gallup analysis of U.S. adults who have used the drugs. GLP-1 users who have someone encouraging them, exercise frequently, set and achieve goals, eat produce regularly, and are active and productive every day are more likely to describe the medication as “extremely effective.” Of the 32 lifestyle factors Gallup reviewed, these five stand out as having the strongest relationships with successful weight loss.
The study relies on respondents’ own reports of how effective GLP-1s have been in helping them to lose weight, not on biometric data. Overall, 31% say the medicine is “extremely effective” for weight loss, and another 40% call it “effective.” About a quarter are less impressed by the drug, including 7% who say it is “not at all effective.”
These data are part of the Gallup National Health and Well-Being Index. The results are based on a web survey of 5,065 U.S. adults — 784 who have used GLP-1s for weight loss — conducted May 28-June 5, 2026, using the probability-based Gallup Panel encompassing all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Gallup examined 32 actionable wellbeing behaviors and experiences to determine which are most strongly associated with users reporting that GLP-1 medications are extremely effective. Many behaviors, including those closely correlated with the identified metrics themselves, show relatively weak relationships.
The percentage of U.S. adults who have ever used GLP-1s for weight loss has reached a new high of 15%, while the share currently using them is also at a new high, at 11%. This analysis focuses on the broader group of adults who have ever used GLP-1s for weight loss.
Having Someone Who Always Encourages You to Be Healthy
GLP-1 users who have someone in their life who encourages healthy habits are about twice as likely as those who do not to say the medication is extremely effective. Having someone who consistently encourages healthy choices may reinforce new habits, provide accountability when discipline wanes, and help sustain motivation after the initial excitement of starting the medication begins to recede.
Social support can also make healthy behaviors easier to maintain by normalizing better food choices, inspiring regular activity and helping people push through setbacks. While GLP-1 medications can reduce appetite, supportive relationships may encourage individuals to build the lasting routines needed for long-term success in their health and weight loss goals.
Exercising 30 Minutes or More, at Least Five Days a Week
Exercise has long been associated with better health and a healthy body mass index (BMI). But perhaps the most notable finding is not simply that exercise matters, but that the perceived effectiveness of GLP-1s increases by roughly 11 percentage points at five days of exercise per week and then bumps slightly higher at six to seven days.
Regular physical activity complements the appetite-suppressing effects of GLP-1s by preserving muscle mass, increasing energy expenditure and supporting overall metabolic health during weight loss. One practical aspect of the five-day threshold is that it can help reinforce a healthy routine without requiring an unrealistic daily commitment — indicating that consistently exercising several days a week matters just as much as exercising every day.
Reaching Most of Your Goals in the Past 12 Months
GLP-1 users who are good at setting and reaching goals are more than twice as likely as those who are not to find the medication to be extremely effective, highlighting the importance of setting specific goals for weight loss.
People who regularly achieve important personal goals may benefit from bringing the same planning, persistence and follow-through habits to weight management. Those qualities can make it easier to establish new eating patterns, maintain medication schedules and follow consistent weigh-in routines. Goal achievement may also reflect a broader sense of personal agency — the belief that one's actions lead to meaningful results. That mindset can reinforce continued effort even when progress occurs gradually.
Consuming Five or More Servings of Produce at Least Five Days a Week
As with exercise, reaching a fifth day each week of consuming at least five servings of produce per day results in a notable jump in perceived effectiveness of GLP-1 medications, underscoring the importance of eating well — not just eating less — in weight loss efforts.
Nutritional quality remains important amid a reduction in appetite while on GLP-1s. Choosing fruits and vegetables more frequently may also reflect broader dietary habits that complement the medication's appetite-suppressing effects.
Being Active and Productive Every Day
Distinct from sheer exercise, being active and productive means embracing a day filled with productive activity and natural movement, getting a lot done throughout the day, and staying in motion. Those who are active and productive every day are nearly twice as likely as those who are not to say GLP-1s are extremely effective.
Feeling active and productive may involve movement throughout the day — being on your feet at home, getting in and out of the car while running errands, or taking walks with friends. It may also reflect more than physical energy, indicating greater engagement in daily life, the workplace and the community. It can imply consistent routines and a sense of momentum that supports other healthy behaviors. Individuals who remain active throughout the day may be more likely than those who struggle with fatigue or inactivity to prepare healthy meals, stick to their workout goals and stay on track with their medications. As such, the effectiveness of GLP-1s can be complemented by maintaining an active lifestyle that reinforces healthy choices across many aspects of daily life.
Bottom Line
While GLP-1 medications can be a powerful tool for weight loss, Gallup's findings suggest they may be most effective when paired with healthy routines, supportive relationships and a broader pattern of positive daily behaviors. These relationships indicate, in turn, that maximizing weight loss likely depends on more than the medication alone for many individuals.
Studying the self-reported effectiveness of GLP-1s is not the same as clinically measuring pounds lost, percentage of body weight lost or reductions in body fat over time. But it can serve as a useful proxy for those outcomes. And while these findings cannot determine cause and effect, they suggest something important: The habits and environments that support weight loss may also help people sustain it, even after use of the medication has ended.
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Learn more about how the Gallup National Health and Well-Being Index works. Learn more about how the Gallup Panel works.
