Weight-loss drugs reach 1 in 6 Gen Z adults in South Korea: survey

Gen Z adults reported the highest use of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs in the South Korean survey. The finding matters because use was much more common among younger respondents than older generations. It also shows strong interest beyond people already taking the medicines.

Among respondents born in 1995 or later, 16.5% had used or been prescribed the drugs. Millennials followed at 14.2%. Use fell to 7.7% among Gen X and 2.9% among baby boomers. Men reported higher use than women, 11.6% versus 9%.

The survey covered 2,000 people aged 25 to 69 in July and August. Overall, 10.3% reported use or a prescription. Interest was broader: 33.9% said they would use the drugs if circumstances allowed, rising to 39.7% among Gen Z. These results describe reported use and intentions, not the causes behind the age differences.

GLP-1 weight-loss drugs are medicines designed to copy the action of GLP-1, a hormone made in the small intestine. They matter because GLP-1 helps regulate both blood sugar and appetite. Wegovy contains semaglutide, while Mounjaro contains tirzepatide.

GLP-1 encourages the pancreas to release insulin and reduces glucagon, which raises blood sugar. It also slows digestion and acts on brain areas controlling hunger and fullness. Tirzepatide additionally mimics GIP, another gut hormone. In trials, semaglutide produced average weight loss of 14.9% over 68 weeks, while tirzepatide produced up to 20.9% over 72 weeks among adults with overweight or obesity.

These medicines are not risk-free. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are common. The European Medicines Agency said semaglutide can very rarely cause sudden vision loss. A U.K. regulator warned users about signs of severe pancreatitis.

GLP-1 drugs have moved beyond a niche treatment in South Korea. The survey found that 10.3% of 2,000 adults aged 25 to 69 had used or been prescribed them. A further 33.9% said they would use the medicines if circumstances allowed, showing a much larger pool of potential demand.

Prescription data gives another view of their reach. South Korea recorded roughly 1.5 million Mounjaro prescriptions during the 10 months through May. People in their 20s and 30s accounted for 52.9% of those prescriptions. Gen Z also reported the highest survey use, at 16.5%, followed by millennials at 14.2%.

The figures show strong use among younger adults, but they measure different things. The survey covers reported use or prescriptions across several drugs. The prescription figure concerns Mounjaro only. South Korea's obesity rate was 35.4% in 2025, up from 34.4% the previous year.

GLP-1 drugs help with weight loss by acting on several systems at once. They slow digestion and affect brain areas that control hunger and fullness. They also prompt insulin release and hold back glucagon, helping regulate blood sugar. Mounjaro's tirzepatide adds GIP activity.

The trial results were substantial. Adults with obesity or overweight lost an average of 14.9% of body weight over 68 weeks with semaglutide, Wegovy's active ingredient. With tirzepatide, Mounjaro's active ingredient, participants lost up to 20.9% over 72 weeks. These results explain the drugs' appeal for weight management.

The benefits must be weighed against harms. The article identifies nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea as common effects. The European Medicines Agency reported that semaglutide can very rarely cause sudden vision loss. The U.K. medicines regulator warned users to watch for signs of severe pancreatitis.

The survey found a clear difference in the reasons generations gave for considering GLP-1 drugs. Gen Z respondents most often cited managing their appearance and body shape. Baby boomers most often cited improving their health. The contrast matters because the same medicine can carry different personal meanings.

Among Gen Z respondents, 48.2% selected appearance and body-shape management as a reason. Among baby boomers, 55.3% pointed to health improvement. These are survey responses, not medical assessments. The report also found that 39.7% of Gen Z would use the drugs if circumstances allowed, compared with 33.9% overall.

The article does not establish the underlying cause of the generational difference. It does show that younger adults reported higher use and stronger potential interest, while older adults more often framed use around health. Side-effect concerns remained widespread across the sample: 57.3% of all respondents expressed concern.

South Korea is weighing tighter controls as GLP-1 drugs become widely used and sought after. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety plans to designate obesity drugs including Wegovy and Mounjaro as medicines of concern for misuse and abuse. That designation would tighten prescribing and distribution controls.

The ministry also acted against 26 companies that falsely advertised diet products as “edible Wegovy” or as able to suppress appetite and block fat absorption. Their short-form video advertisements used AI-generated virtual people or body-tissue images. Some showed celebrities or pharmacists recommending the products. The companies sold about 600,000 units worth 11.5 billion won.

The ministry asked local authorities to impose penalties and filed criminal complaints. The regulatory plan was scheduled to go before a government committee on October 30. Together, the proposed controls and enforcement address both legitimate medicines and misleading products marketed as substitutes. They also reflect public concern: 57.3% of survey respondents worried about side effects.

These hormones coordinate blood sugar and eating signals. GLP-1 is made in the small intestine and helps regulate blood sugar and appetite. Its actions matter because they connect what happens after eating with insulin release, digestion, and feelings of hunger or fullness.

GLP-1 prompts the pancreas to release insulin. Insulin helps manage blood sugar, while glucagon raises blood sugar, so GLP-1 holds back glucagon. GLP-1 also slows digestion and acts on brain areas that control hunger and fullness. Together, these effects can reduce appetite and support weight loss.

Mounjaro's active ingredient, tirzepatide, copies GLP-1 activity and also mimics GIP, a second gut hormone. The article describes these medicines as hormone mimics rather than naturally produced hormones themselves. Their effects explain both their appeal and their digestive side effects, including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.