A growing preference for needle free medication is shaping public attitudes towards semaglutide. New research from Levity, which surveyed 1,000 people across the US and the UK, shows that interest in an oral version of Ozempic is strong, even as concerns about cost, misuse and long term safety continue to influence opinion.

The research highlights a clear barrier. One in two people in the US and the UK say injections discourage them from using Ozempic. Men show slightly higher reluctance at 52%, compared with 46% of women. Baby boomers and Gen Z are both at 53%, followed by Millennials at 50% and Gen X at 47%. Ozempic, which was approved by the FDA in 2017 for type 2 diabetes, requires weekly subcutaneous injections. Its off label use for weight loss has helped push US prescriptions to more than 9 million monthly by mid 2025. Despite demand, many still view the injection format as inconvenient or unappealing.

Interest in a pill form is equally clear. Levity found that 62% of respondents would consider taking Ozempic if it were available as a pill. Women are at 61% and men at 63%. Gen X reports the highest willingness at 65%, followed by Millennials at 62%, Gen Z at 60% and Baby boomers at 53%. This pattern reflects the uptake of Rybelsus, the daily oral semaglutide approved in 2019. While Rybelsus generally produces less weight loss than higher dose injectable semaglutide, Novo Nordisk’s phase three trials of a new high dose oral version have shown 13.6% body weight reduction over 64 weeks. The company expects FDA consideration for an obesity indication by late 2025.

Confidence in safety and effectiveness remains strong despite recent scrutiny. More than 3 in 4 people, 76%, trust that a pill version of Ozempic would work as well as the injectable form. Men report 79% confidence and women 73%. Baby boomers lead at 79%, with Gen X and Millennials at 76% and Gen Z at 75%. These findings unfold against updates to semaglutide’s safety profile. In January 2025, the FDA expanded Ozempic’s label to include reduced risks of kidney disease progression and cardiovascular death in type 2 diabetes patients with chronic kidney disease. A June 2025 communication from the European Medicines Agency reported rare cases of non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. US data from 2025 also highlighted gastrointestinal risks, including ileus. Observational studies noted a modest increase in neovascular age related macular degeneration, although no causal link has been confirmed.

Cost remains a decisive factor. The survey shows that Americans and Britons would pay an average of $35 per month out of pocket for an Ozempic pill. Nearly a quarter of Americans, 24%, would pay $100 or more each month, compared with 15% of Britons. The contrast reflects pricing systems on each side of the Atlantic. In the US, Ozempic lists at about $1,000 per month without insurance, though a 2025 Medicare negotiation secured a 71% discount for eligible patients. In the UK, NHS prescriptions cost £92 monthly for those who qualify, contributing to £400 million in yearly spending by 2025. Private clinics charge more than £200, widening access gaps. Among current users, 48% of men say they would definitely switch to a pill, compared with 36% of women. Millennials show the highest intent at 44%, followed by Gen X at 34%, Gen Z at 17% and Baby boomers at 6%.

Concerns about accessibility and misuse continue to divide opinion. In the US, 53% do not believe a pill version would make Ozempic too easy to obtain, compared with 36% in the UK. Among those who believe accessibility would not increase, 46% of women and 43% of men agree. Gen X is highest at 50%, then Millennials at 44%, Gen Z at 38% and Baby boomers at 37%. Respondents cite several risks. These include people taking the medication without a prescription at 57%, overuse or abuse at 55%, long term health effects at 50%, access by children or teenagers at 45%, rise in black market activity at 36%, cosmetic misuse at 33%, negative influence on body image culture at 32%, insurance and pricing complications at 27%, pressure to take it at 16% and pressure from doctors or peers at 11%. These concerns reflect ongoing FDA warnings about compounded semaglutide, which was linked to overdoses and adverse events in 2025.

Levity’s methodology included 500 respondents in the US and 500 in the UK. For Americans, the average age was 41 with an even gender split. The generational breakdown was 9% Baby boomers, 31% Gen X, 44% Millennials and 17% Gen Z. In the UK, the average age was 42 with the same gender distribution. The generational distribution was 7% Baby boomers, 39% Gen X, 38% Millennials and 17% Gen Z. Percentages may not add to 100 due to rounding.