About 12% of all Americans have taken Ozempic or another GLP-1 drug, according to a new survey released Friday by health policy research nonprofit KFF.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 drugs help spur weight loss and help prevent heart attacks and strokes. 

Zepbound, Wegovy and Saxenda are GLP-1 drugs prescribed for losing weight, while Ozempic, Mounjaro and Rybelsus aim for diabetes.

Compared with the last time the Kaiser Family Foundation surveyed the population, more people know about this category of drugs, with 82% having heard a little about them, up from 73% in July, and 32% hearing a lot about GLP-1 drugs, up from 19% that month.

The study surveyed 1,479 people from April 23 through May 1. Among respondents, 12% had taken a GLP-1 drug at some point, with 6% currently taking it. 

Nearly half of all diabetic respondents, 43%, had gotten GLP-1 treatment, while 25% with heart disease and 22% of those overweight had taken such a drug.

More than half of those surveyed, 54%, said it was difficult to afford, with 22% saying it was very difficult, according to KFF. For people 65 and older, 8% had taken a GLP-1 drug for a medical condition, with just 1% for weight loss.

• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.