1 in 10 Korean adults used obesity drugs in 2025: report

A KB Financial Group report released Sunday found that 10.3 percent of surveyed Korean adults had used or been prescribed GLP-1 obesity drugs in the past year. Usage was highest among Generation Z, while one-third of respondents said they would use the drugs in the future if circumstances allowed. Respondents cited different motivations by generation, and 57.3 percent expressed concern about misuse and side effects. The report also covered digital health care, sleep and mental health.

The July and August survey included 2,000 men and women aged 25 to 69.

Usage rates were 16.5 percent for Generation Z, 14.2 percent for millennials, 7.7 percent for Generation X and 2.9 percent for baby boomers.

Men reported higher use than women, at 11.6 percent versus 9 percent, while women were more aware of the drugs, at 83.1 percent versus 73 percent.

Among respondents open to future use, 39.7 percent of Generation Z said they would use the drugs if circumstances allowed; appearance and body-shape management was their leading reason, while baby boomers most often cited health improvement.

Average daily sleep fell from 6.5 hours in 2024 to 6.3 hours this year, and 49.9 percent said they had experienced chronic fatigue in the past month that persisted despite sufficient rest.

Published Oct 26, 2026 4:55 pm KST

Gen Z rate hits 16.5%, nearly 40% willing to use

A box containing Wegovy tablets moves along a line at Novo Nordisk's facility in Malov, west of Copenhagen, Denmark, July 31. Reuters-Yonhap

One in 10 adults in Korea used or was prescribed obesity drugs such as Wegovy and Mounjaro in the past year, with younger generations reporting higher usage and one-third of respondents saying they would use such drugs in the future.

According to the “2026 Korea Wellness Report” released Sunday by KB Financial Group, 10.3 percent of the 2,000 men and women aged 25 to 69 who were surveyed in July and August said they used or were prescribed GLP-1 obesity drugs in the past year. The drugs mimic hormones that regulate appetite and blood sugar to aid weight loss.

By generation, Generation Z, born after 1995, had the highest usage rate at 16.5 percent, followed by millennials at 14.2 percent, Generation X at 7.7 percent and baby boomers at 2.9 percent. Usage was higher among men at 11.6 percent than women at 9 percent, but women were more aware of the drugs at 83.1 percent than men at 73 percent.

Asked about future use, 33.9 percent of respondents said they would use obesity drugs if circumstances allowed, with the share rising to 39.7 percent among Gen Z, who cited “appearance and body shape management” as the top reason at 48.2 percent.

By contrast, baby boomers cited “health improvement” as the top reason at 55.3 percent, showing a generational gap in motivation. Concerns over misuse and side effects were shared by 57.3 percent of all respondents.

The report also looked at broader health trends, including digital health care, sleep and mental health. Among respondents, 46.2 percent said they have used generative artificial intelligence to get health and medical information, with the share rising to 55.5 percent among Gen Z.

Average daily sleep time among adults fell from 6.5 hours in 2024 to 6.3 hours this year, while the share of those getting seven hours or more dropped from 50.4 percent to 41.6 percent over the same period. Nearly half of respondents, or 49.9 percent, said they had suffered chronic fatigue over the past month that persisted even after sufficient rest.

韩国KB金融集团周日发布的一份报告显示，在过去一年中，10.3%的受访韩国成年人曾使用或被处方过GLP-1类减肥药。Z世代的使用率最高，三分之一的受访者表示，如果条件允许，他们未来会使用这类药物。不同世代的受访者给出的用药动机各不相同，57.3%的受访者对药物滥用和副作用表示担忧。该报告还涵盖了数字医疗、睡眠和心理健康等领域。

7 月和 8 月的调查包括 2000 名年龄在 25 岁至 69 岁之间的男性和女性。

Z世代的使用率为16.5%，千禧一代为14.2%，X世代为7.7%，婴儿潮一代为2.9%。

男性报告的使用率高于女性，分别为 11.6% 和 9%，而女性对药物的了解程度更高，分别为 83.1% 和 73%。

在对未来使用药物持开放态度的受访者中，39.7% 的 Z 世代表示，如果条件允许，他们会使用这些药物；外貌和体型管理是他们的主要原因，而婴儿潮一代最常提及的是健康改善。

平均每日睡眠时间从 2024 年的 6.5 小时下降到今年的 6.3 小时，49.9% 的人表示，他们在过去一个月中经历了慢性疲劳，即使休息充足，疲劳感仍然持续存在。

发布于2026年10月26日下午4:55（韩国标准时间）

Z世代使用率达到16.5%，近40%的人愿意使用

7月31日，在丹麦哥本哈根以西马洛夫的诺和诺德工厂，一个装有Wegovy片剂的盒子沿着流水线移动。（路透社-韩联社）

过去一年中，韩国十分之一的成年人使用或被处方了诸如 Wegovy 和 Mounjaro 之类的减肥药，年轻一代的使用率更高，三分之一的受访者表示他们将来会使用此类药物。

根据KB金融集团周日发布的《2026年韩国健康报告》，在7月和8月接受调查的2000名年龄在25岁至69岁之间的男性和女性中，10.3%的人表示他们在过去一年中使用过或被处方过GLP-1类减肥药。这类药物通过模拟调节食欲和血糖的激素来帮助减肥。

按世代划分，1995 年后出生的 Z 世代使用率最高，为 16.5%，其次是千禧一代（14.2%）、X 世代（7.7%）和婴儿潮一代（2.9%）。男性使用率（11.6%）高于女性（9%），但女性对药物的了解程度（83.1%）高于男性（73%）。

当被问及未来使用情况时，33.9% 的受访者表示，如果条件允许，他们会使用减肥药物；Z 世代的这一比例上升至 39.7%，其中 48.2% 的人将“外貌和体型管理”列为首要原因。

相比之下，婴儿潮一代将“改善健康”列为首要原因，占比55.3%，这表明不同世代在动机上存在差异。57.3%的受访者表示担心药物滥用和副作用。

该报告还考察了更广泛的健康趋势，包括数字医疗、睡眠和心理健康。在受访者中，46.2%的人表示他们曾使用生成式人工智能获取健康和医疗信息，而Z世代的这一比例上升至55.5%。

成年人平均每日睡眠时间从2024年的6.5小时下降至今年的6.3小时，而睡眠时间达到或超过7小时的人群比例同期也从50.4%下降至41.6%。近半数受访者（49.9%）表示，过去一个月他们一直感到慢性疲劳，即使经过充分休息也难以缓解。