One in eight adults in the United States has taken Ozempic or other medications…

Bloomberg — In the United States, one in eight adults has used one of the most popular drugs at some time. new range of medicines against diabetes and excess weight, which includes Ozempic and Zepbound.

About half of people who have tried these medications are still taking them, according to a survey by health research organization KFF released this Friday.

The KFF survey results reflect the entire adult population of the United States, meaning that approximately thirty million people have tried these drugs.

Read more: These are the anti-obesity drugs that compete with Ozempic and Zepbound.

Drugs such as Mujaro And Zepboundfrom Eli Lilly & Co. (LLY) and Ozempic and Novo Nordisk A/S’s Wegovy are gaining popularity among Americans, where diabetes and obesity rates have been rising for decades.

However, their price continues to be a problem: more than 50% of respondents who have tried these drugs indicate that they are very expensive, even with coupons and insurance.

A monthly Ozempic treatment can cost around $1,000 before discounts or rebates.

According to a KFF survey, more than half of users with health insurance indicated that their insurance covers part of the cost, while 25% indicated that insurance covers them completely.

This non-profit organization conducts regular surveys of US citizens to learn their opinions on health issues.

medications known as GLP-1 They were originally developed to treat diabetes, but also helped people who took them lose weight. More recently, some have been approved for the treatment of obesity.

Read more: We can fix your ‘Ozempic face’, says skincare company Galderma

Drugmakers are accelerating research into how they can fight other diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and sleep apnea to expand their use and gain insurance coverage. The market for these drugs is expected to reach at least $80 billion by 2030, according to Bloomberg Intelligence.

Celebrity endorsements and media attention increased popularity, and increased demand led to shortages. Some patients resorted to unapproved compound versions drugs – a practice that manufacturers have tried to combat.

About a third of adults said they had heard “a lot” about GLP-1 drugs, up from 19% in the previous KFF survey in July. About four in 10 people who took these medications reported that they took them primarily to lose weight.

MedicareFederal insurance program for people over 65 or with disabilities, currentlydoes not cover medications just to lose weight. Only 1% of people over 65 said they had taken a GLP-1 drug for weight loss.

The vast majority of people surveyed across all political parties supported making Medicare pay for weight loss treatments.

A separate KFF study conducted in April found that OK veg for heart diseases could provide Medicare coverage to 3.6 million people. However, out-of-pocket costs can reach $430 for a monthly supply, which is costly for many people enrolled in the federal insurance program.

The new study was conducted in late April with nearly 1,500 adults contacted online and by phone in English and Spanish.

Read more at Bloomberg.com.