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Research Findings – Types Examples and Writing Guide

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Research Findings

Definition:

Research findings refer to the results obtained from a study or investigation conducted through a systematic and scientific approach. These findings are the outcomes of the data analysis, interpretation, and evaluation carried out during the research process.

Types of Research Findings

There are two main types of research findings:

Qualitative Findings

Qualitative research is an exploratory research method used to understand the complexities of human behavior and experiences. Qualitative findings are non-numerical and descriptive data that describe the meaning and interpretation of the data collected. Examples of qualitative findings include quotes from participants, themes that emerge from the data, and descriptions of experiences and phenomena.

Quantitative Findings

Quantitative research is a research method that uses numerical data and statistical analysis to measure and quantify a phenomenon or behavior. Quantitative findings include numerical data such as mean, median, and mode, as well as statistical analyses such as t-tests, ANOVA, and regression analysis. These findings are often presented in tables, graphs, or charts.

Both qualitative and quantitative findings are important in research and can provide different insights into a research question or problem. Combining both types of findings can provide a more comprehensive understanding of a phenomenon and improve the validity and reliability of research results.

Parts of Research Findings

Research findings typically consist of several parts, including:

• Introduction: This section provides an overview of the research topic and the purpose of the study.
• Literature Review: This section summarizes previous research studies and findings that are relevant to the current study.
• Methodology : This section describes the research design, methods, and procedures used in the study, including details on the sample, data collection, and data analysis.
• Results : This section presents the findings of the study, including statistical analyses and data visualizations.
• Discussion : This section interprets the results and explains what they mean in relation to the research question(s) and hypotheses. It may also compare and contrast the current findings with previous research studies and explore any implications or limitations of the study.
• Conclusion : This section provides a summary of the key findings and the main conclusions of the study.
• Recommendations: This section suggests areas for further research and potential applications or implications of the study’s findings.

How to Write Research Findings

Writing research findings requires careful planning and attention to detail. Here are some general steps to follow when writing research findings:

• Organize your findings: Before you begin writing, it’s essential to organize your findings logically. Consider creating an outline or a flowchart that outlines the main points you want to make and how they relate to one another.
• Use clear and concise language : When presenting your findings, be sure to use clear and concise language that is easy to understand. Avoid using jargon or technical terms unless they are necessary to convey your meaning.
• Use visual aids : Visual aids such as tables, charts, and graphs can be helpful in presenting your findings. Be sure to label and title your visual aids clearly, and make sure they are easy to read.
• Use headings and subheadings: Using headings and subheadings can help organize your findings and make them easier to read. Make sure your headings and subheadings are clear and descriptive.
• Interpret your findings : When presenting your findings, it’s important to provide some interpretation of what the results mean. This can include discussing how your findings relate to the existing literature, identifying any limitations of your study, and suggesting areas for future research.
• Be precise and accurate : When presenting your findings, be sure to use precise and accurate language. Avoid making generalizations or overstatements and be careful not to misrepresent your data.
• Edit and revise: Once you have written your research findings, be sure to edit and revise them carefully. Check for grammar and spelling errors, make sure your formatting is consistent, and ensure that your writing is clear and concise.

Research Findings Example

Following is a Research Findings Example sample for students:

Title: The Effects of Exercise on Mental Health

Sample : 500 participants, both men and women, between the ages of 18-45.

Methodology : Participants were divided into two groups. The first group engaged in 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise five times a week for eight weeks. The second group did not exercise during the study period. Participants in both groups completed a questionnaire that assessed their mental health before and after the study period.

Findings : The group that engaged in regular exercise reported a significant improvement in mental health compared to the control group. Specifically, they reported lower levels of anxiety and depression, improved mood, and increased self-esteem.

Conclusion : Regular exercise can have a positive impact on mental health and may be an effective intervention for individuals experiencing symptoms of anxiety or depression.

Applications of Research Findings

Research findings can be applied in various fields to improve processes, products, services, and outcomes. Here are some examples:

• Healthcare : Research findings in medicine and healthcare can be applied to improve patient outcomes, reduce morbidity and mortality rates, and develop new treatments for various diseases.
• Education : Research findings in education can be used to develop effective teaching methods, improve learning outcomes, and design new educational programs.
• Technology : Research findings in technology can be applied to develop new products, improve existing products, and enhance user experiences.
• Business : Research findings in business can be applied to develop new strategies, improve operations, and increase profitability.
• Public Policy: Research findings can be used to inform public policy decisions on issues such as environmental protection, social welfare, and economic development.
• Social Sciences: Research findings in social sciences can be used to improve understanding of human behavior and social phenomena, inform public policy decisions, and develop interventions to address social issues.
• Agriculture: Research findings in agriculture can be applied to improve crop yields, develop new farming techniques, and enhance food security.
• Sports : Research findings in sports can be applied to improve athlete performance, reduce injuries, and develop new training programs.

When to use Research Findings

Research findings can be used in a variety of situations, depending on the context and the purpose. Here are some examples of when research findings may be useful:

• Decision-making : Research findings can be used to inform decisions in various fields, such as business, education, healthcare, and public policy. For example, a business may use market research findings to make decisions about new product development or marketing strategies.
• Problem-solving : Research findings can be used to solve problems or challenges in various fields, such as healthcare, engineering, and social sciences. For example, medical researchers may use findings from clinical trials to develop new treatments for diseases.
• Policy development : Research findings can be used to inform the development of policies in various fields, such as environmental protection, social welfare, and economic development. For example, policymakers may use research findings to develop policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Program evaluation: Research findings can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of programs or interventions in various fields, such as education, healthcare, and social services. For example, educational researchers may use findings from evaluations of educational programs to improve teaching and learning outcomes.
• Innovation: Research findings can be used to inspire or guide innovation in various fields, such as technology and engineering. For example, engineers may use research findings on materials science to develop new and innovative products.

Purpose of Research Findings

The purpose of research findings is to contribute to the knowledge and understanding of a particular topic or issue. Research findings are the result of a systematic and rigorous investigation of a research question or hypothesis, using appropriate research methods and techniques.

The main purposes of research findings are:

• To generate new knowledge : Research findings contribute to the body of knowledge on a particular topic, by adding new information, insights, and understanding to the existing knowledge base.
• To test hypotheses or theories : Research findings can be used to test hypotheses or theories that have been proposed in a particular field or discipline. This helps to determine the validity and reliability of the hypotheses or theories, and to refine or develop new ones.
• To inform practice: Research findings can be used to inform practice in various fields, such as healthcare, education, and business. By identifying best practices and evidence-based interventions, research findings can help practitioners to make informed decisions and improve outcomes.
• To identify gaps in knowledge: Research findings can help to identify gaps in knowledge and understanding of a particular topic, which can then be addressed by further research.
• To contribute to policy development: Research findings can be used to inform policy development in various fields, such as environmental protection, social welfare, and economic development. By providing evidence-based recommendations, research findings can help policymakers to develop effective policies that address societal challenges.

Characteristics of Research Findings

Research findings have several key characteristics that distinguish them from other types of information or knowledge. Here are some of the main characteristics of research findings:

• Objective : Research findings are based on a systematic and rigorous investigation of a research question or hypothesis, using appropriate research methods and techniques. As such, they are generally considered to be more objective and reliable than other types of information.
• Empirical : Research findings are based on empirical evidence, which means that they are derived from observations or measurements of the real world. This gives them a high degree of credibility and validity.
• Generalizable : Research findings are often intended to be generalizable to a larger population or context beyond the specific study. This means that the findings can be applied to other situations or populations with similar characteristics.
• Transparent : Research findings are typically reported in a transparent manner, with a clear description of the research methods and data analysis techniques used. This allows others to assess the credibility and reliability of the findings.
• Peer-reviewed: Research findings are often subject to a rigorous peer-review process, in which experts in the field review the research methods, data analysis, and conclusions of the study. This helps to ensure the validity and reliability of the findings.
• Reproducible : Research findings are often designed to be reproducible, meaning that other researchers can replicate the study using the same methods and obtain similar results. This helps to ensure the validity and reliability of the findings.

Advantages of Research Findings

Research findings have many advantages, which make them valuable sources of knowledge and information. Here are some of the main advantages of research findings:

• Evidence-based: Research findings are based on empirical evidence, which means that they are grounded in data and observations from the real world. This makes them a reliable and credible source of information.
• Inform decision-making: Research findings can be used to inform decision-making in various fields, such as healthcare, education, and business. By identifying best practices and evidence-based interventions, research findings can help practitioners and policymakers to make informed decisions and improve outcomes.
• Identify gaps in knowledge: Research findings can help to identify gaps in knowledge and understanding of a particular topic, which can then be addressed by further research. This contributes to the ongoing development of knowledge in various fields.
• Improve outcomes : Research findings can be used to develop and implement evidence-based practices and interventions, which have been shown to improve outcomes in various fields, such as healthcare, education, and social services.
• Foster innovation: Research findings can inspire or guide innovation in various fields, such as technology and engineering. By providing new information and understanding of a particular topic, research findings can stimulate new ideas and approaches to problem-solving.
• Enhance credibility: Research findings are generally considered to be more credible and reliable than other types of information, as they are based on rigorous research methods and are subject to peer-review processes.

Limitations of Research Findings

While research findings have many advantages, they also have some limitations. Here are some of the main limitations of research findings:

• Limited scope: Research findings are typically based on a particular study or set of studies, which may have a limited scope or focus. This means that they may not be applicable to other contexts or populations.
• Potential for bias : Research findings can be influenced by various sources of bias, such as researcher bias, selection bias, or measurement bias. This can affect the validity and reliability of the findings.
• Ethical considerations: Research findings can raise ethical considerations, particularly in studies involving human subjects. Researchers must ensure that their studies are conducted in an ethical and responsible manner, with appropriate measures to protect the welfare and privacy of participants.
• Time and resource constraints : Research studies can be time-consuming and require significant resources, which can limit the number and scope of studies that are conducted. This can lead to gaps in knowledge or a lack of research on certain topics.
• Complexity: Some research findings can be complex and difficult to interpret, particularly in fields such as science or medicine. This can make it challenging for practitioners and policymakers to apply the findings to their work.
• Lack of generalizability : While research findings are intended to be generalizable to larger populations or contexts, there may be factors that limit their generalizability. For example, cultural or environmental factors may influence how a particular intervention or treatment works in different populations or contexts.

About the author

Muhammad Hassan

Researcher, Academic Writer, Web developer

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Synonyms of finding

• as in ruling
• as in discovery
• as in discovering
• as in encountering
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Thesaurus Definition of finding

 (Entry 1 of 2)

Synonyms & Similar Words

• determination
• declaration
• pronouncement
• deliverance
• arbitrament
• exploration
• rediscovery

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• disappearance
• concealment

Thesaurus Definition of finding  (Entry 2 of 2)

• discovering
• determining
• ascertaining
• finding out
• tracking (down)
• hitting (on or upon)
• running down
• hunting (down or up)
• routing (out)
• digging out
• dredging (up)
• scouting (up)
• ferreting (out)
• rooting (out)
• looking for
• searching (for or out)
• overlooking
• passing over
• mis - setting
• encountering
• hitting (upon)
• happening (on or upon)
• lighting (on or upon)
• tumbling (upon)
• stumbling (on or onto)
• running against
• pitching (upon)
• coming across
• running into
• running across
• bumping into
• confronting
• running upon
• chancing (upon)
• lucking (out, on, onto, or into)

Thesaurus Entries Near finding

find (for or against)

finding fault (with)

Cite this Entry

“Finding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/finding. Accessed 17 May. 2024.

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Nglish: Translation of finding for Spanish Speakers

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Synonyms of 'finding' in British English

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The Difference Between Analysis & Findings in a Research Paper

25 jun 2018.

The exact format of a research paper varies across disciplines, but they share certain features in common. They have the following sections, which may have different names in different fields: introduction, literature review (these first two are often combined), methodology, data analysis, results or findings, discussion and conclusion. These last two are also often combined into one section.

Explore this article

• Basic Description of Analysis and Findings
• What is Needed to Write the Analysis and Findings Sections
• Who Should Write the Analysis and Findings Sections
• Style of the Analysis and Findings Sections

1 Basic Description of Analysis and Findings

In the analysis section, you describe what you did with your data. If it is a quantitative paper, this will include details of statistical procedures. If it is a qualitative paper, it may include a SWOT analysis which looks at the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the statistical data. As an example, a SWOT analysis can be used in business applications to determine a future business path based on current analysis. In the findings or results section, you report what the analysis revealed but only the factual matter of the results, not their implication or meaning. The findings are the research questions that you found answers for during your research.

2 What is Needed to Write the Analysis and Findings Sections

To write the analysis section, you need to know what the analysis findings are. You do not necessarily need the specific data unless the analysis changed as a result of looking at that data. To write the findings section, you need to have already performed the data analysis.

3 Who Should Write the Analysis and Findings Sections

If the paper has more than one author as many research papers do, then different people may write the analysis and findings sections. The author who writes the analysis section should be knowledgeable about the methods used. If it is a quantitative paper, he or she may be a statistician or data analyst. The author who writes the findings section should be knowledgeable about the way findings in the field are reported. This author of the findings section will often also be the lead author of the paper.

4 Style of the Analysis and Findings Sections

The analysis section often includes a justification of the methods used. As it is often technical in nature, it may be skipped by many readers. By contrast, the findings section is purely descriptive and should be easily understood by all members of the paper's targeted audience. The findings section might be written in past tense and should be clear and concise enough for that audience to understand the reported results. Looking over the appropriate style guide for your research's paper or reading similar research sections in other papers are two ways to guide the writing of these sections.

• 1 Monash University: Reporting and Discussing Your Findings
• 2 American Psychological Association: Discussing Your Findings
• 3 Sacred Heart University Library: The Results Organizing Academic Research Papers
• 4 University of Southern California: Presenting Finds Qualitative

About the Author

Peter Flom is a statistician and a learning-disabled adult. He has been writing for many years and has been published in many academic journals in fields such as psychology, drug addiction, epidemiology and others. He holds a Ph.D. in psychometrics from Fordham University.

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Synonyms and antonyms of research in English

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to try to persuade a customer who is already buying something to buy more, or to buy something more expensive

Searching out and tracking down: talking about finding or discovering things

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Thirty years later, the Women’s Health Initiative provides researchers with key messages for postmenopausal women

Researchers from the NHLBI-supported Women’s Health Initiative , the largest women’s health study in the U.S., published findings from a 20-year review that underscores the importance of postmenopausal women moving away from a one-size-fits-all approach to making medical decisions. Through this lens, the researchers encourage women and physicians to work together to make shared and individualized decisions based on a woman’s medical history, age, lifestyle, disease risks, symptoms, and health needs and preferences, among other factors. These findings support the concept of “whole-person health” and published in  JAMA .  After reviewing decades of data following clinical trials that started between 1993 and 1998, the researchers explain that estrogen or a combination of estrogen and progestin, two types of hormone replacement therapies, had varying outcomes with chronic conditions. The evidence does not support using these therapies to reduce risks for chronic diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, and dementia. However, the authors caution that the study was not designed to assess the effects of FDA-approved hormone therapies for treating menopausal symptoms . These benefits had been established before the WHI study began.  Another finding from the study is that calcium and vitamin D supplements were not associated with reduced risks for hip fractures among postmenopausal women who had an average risk for osteoporosis. Yet, the authors note women concerned about getting sufficient intake of either nutrient should talk to their doctor. A third finding was that a low-fat dietary pattern with at least five daily servings of fruits and vegetables and increased grains did not reduce the risk of breast or colorectal cancer, but was associated with reduced risks for breast cancer deaths. 

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These four searches show how Google is changing

You’ll start seeing more AI “answers.” They take some decoding.

Googling is easy. Understanding why you’re seeing particular search results or whether they’re useful – not so simple.

The billions of us who use Google might see ads stuffed in many spots, text highlighted at the top of Google that (sometimes unreliably) answers your question, or maps of local businesses pulled from the company’s computer systems.

You’ll also now start seeing more information written by artificial intelligence, in one of the most consequential changes to your searches and the internet in Google’s 25-year history.

Google said Tuesday that beginning this week, everyone in the United States will have access to its “AI overviews” that Google has been slowly expanding for the past year. For some types of searches, Google will use the same type of AI that powers OpenAI’s ChatGPT to summarize information or spit out digestible answers to complex questions – all right at the top of the page.

The more Google’s search pages expand beyond the familiar list of website links, the harder it becomes to know what all of this stuff is, and whether the information is reliable.

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“I don’t think the average person knows what the different [search] features are,” said Kyle Byers at Semrush, a company that studies how companies and people use Google.

To break down what’s in your search results, we did four Google searches and explained what we saw and whether it was helpful.

We want this anatomy of search results to demystify Google, which for a generation has been the starting point for our questions, curiosities and needs.

In a statement, Google said its search “connects people to helpful information for billions of queries every day” and that Google is “constantly innovating and building helpful new features to help people find exactly what they’re looking for.”

The more we learned about how Google search works, the more we believed it’s an incredible resource – but it isn’t always ideal or trustworthy, particularly as Google leans more on AI.

1. “What is the best Mexican restaurant near me with great margaritas, a nice atmosphere and at least four stars on Yelp?”

Google would not typically give you a cogent answer to this kind of multipart, personalized quest for Mexican restaurants in San Francisco. But Google says its AI-generated replies are ideal for some types of complex searches.

If you don’t see AI-generated replies like this yet, they are coming. Look for something like “AI Answer” or “Get an AI Overview for this search?”

We asked a human expert, San Francisco Chronicle associate restaurant critic Cesar Hernandez , to evaluate the Google AI’s restaurant suggestions. “I wouldn’t recommend any of those spots,” he said.

Hernandez said Chuy’s Fiestas and El Buen Comer are more what we’re looking for. He said Bombera in Oakland has great margaritas and food if we’re willing to travel farther.

Restaurant recommendations are subjective, of course. Google’s AI answer is likely synthesizing a huge volume of customer reviews on Yelp and a bunch of other information online.

It was useful to get a snappy answer without combing through reviews or articles. But the type of AI used by Google and ChatGPT essentially generates an average or typical response to your search. That might be great or good enough – or banal or wrong .

(Google said it is adding a feature to turn off search features like this and mostly see the classic web links.)

2. “Mexican restaurants near me”

This search is more typical. We saw what Google calls its “places” panels that pull information from Google’s databases of businesses, their locations in Google Maps, customer reviews written in Google, operating hours and more.

This is handy information. But some Google critics, including frequent antagonist Yelp , say Google is doing you a disservice by showing you at least some information from Google’s computer systems – even if that isn’t the best source.

For an alternative, try searching for Mexican restaurants in Apple Maps. You’ll see reviews from Yelp or other sources.

Google said its local business listings help generate billions of interactions each month with customers, including phone calls and dining reservations.

3. “Best vacuums for pet hair”

Searching Google for products is a minefield if you’re not sure what to buy, said Gisele Navarro, managing editor of product-review site HouseFresh .

You’ll see “sponsored” results at the top – companies that paid Google for ads that put their listings in a prominent place. Google makes no promise that those ads point you to the best vacuums.

Further down the page we saw small photos of other vacuum options. Those are from Google Shopping , mini-stores within Google that compete with Amazon. You’ll probably see Amazon listings when you do product-related searches, too.

(Amazon founder Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post.)

Google, Amazon and the vacuum sellers are making no assurances that the products you see when you search for “best vacuums” are actually the best ones.

Navarro has also written about chronic deceit when Google prioritizes product reviews from some large websites that put little or no effort into testing products.

And Google has recently given more prominence in many product-related searches to forums like Reddit and Quora where people give advice to one another. The quality of those forums can be great – or outdated and spammy.

Google said its ads and product search results aim to be helpful and relevant, and that Google only makes money from ads when they’re useful enough for you to click on them.

Navarro believes Google is now so unreliable when you’re researching products that she tells friends and family members not to use the search engine for that.

Navarro recommends searching with alternatives like Kagi , DuckDuckGo or the Brave web browser . She said Consumer Reports , RTINGS.com , her own site and the Shortcut newsletter consistently publish trustworthy product reviews.

4. “Why did Toni Morrison change her name?”

We’re showing you nearly identical Google responses that came from two different parts of Google search.

First, we saw a Google AI-generated answer with links to four websites.

Google’s AI gave us a correct answer this time but experts generally say this type of AI is not reliable if you’re looking for facts like this Toni Morrison question. It’s best to click on one of the regular links Google shows you or search Wikipedia.

Sometimes AI will botch an answer or make one up . A recent X post showed a Google AI-generated reply for how to safely pass a kidney stone. The answer suggested drinking plenty of urine . (Google said it fixed the problem.)

We also saw almost the same answer about Morrison from a feature that Google calls a “ featured snippet .” The text wasn’t AI-generated. It’s a highlighted section from a website that Google considers a reliable answer to your question.

You might see these snippets at the top of Google, as we did here, or under the “People also ask” questions.

This Morrison snippet was correct and sourced to a trustworthy news organization. Occasionally, though, Google highlights scam phone numbers for businesses or misleading information in snippets.

The company said it’s “extremely rare” for scam numbers to appear in snippets and that it has stricter rules on the information in those fields.

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KFF Health Tracking Poll May 2024: The Public’s Use and Views of GLP-1 Drugs

Alex Montero , Grace Sparks , Marley Presiado , and Liz Hamel Published: May 10, 2024

• Methodology

Key Findings

• The latest KFF Health Tracking Poll finds that about one in eight adults (12%) say they have ever taken a GLP-1 agonist – an increasingly popular class of prescription drugs used for weight loss and to treat diabetes or prevent heart attacks or strokes for adults with heart disease – including 6% who say they are currently taking such a drug. The share who report ever taking these drugs rises to four in ten (43%) among adults who have been told by a doctor that they have diabetes, a quarter who have been told they have heart disease, and one in five (22%) who have been told by a doctor that they are overweight or obese in the past five years 1 . Public awareness of GLP-1 drugs has increased in the past year, with about one-third (32%) of adults now saying they have heard “a lot” about these drugs, up from 19% in July 2023.
• Most adults who have taken GLP-1 drugs say they took them to treat a chronic condition including diabetes or heart disease (62%), while about four in ten say they took them primarily to lose weight.
• About half (54%) of all adults who have taken GLP-1 drugs say it was difficult to afford the cost, including one in five (22%) who say it was “very difficult.” While most insured adults who have taken these drugs say their insurance covered at least part of the cost, even among insured adults about half (53%) say the cost was difficult to afford 2 .
• While 8% of adults ages 65 and older say they have taken a GLP-1 medication for a chronic condition, just 1% say they have ever taken a GLP-1 drug to lose weight, which may reflect Medicare’s lack of coverage for prescription drugs used for weight loss. Nearly four in ten (37%) adults ages 65 and older report being told by a doctor they are overweight or obese in the past five years.
• With Medicare currently prohibited by law from covering prescription drugs used for weight loss, six in ten adults say they think Medicare should cover the cost of these drugs when prescribed for weight loss for people who are overweight, including more than half of Democrats, independents and Republicans. Similar shares of the public continue to support Medicare coverage of these drugs for weight loss even after hearing arguments for and against this proposal.

Use, Access and Affordability of GLP-1 Drugs

KFF’s latest Health Tracking Poll examines the public’s views and use of an increasingly popular group of drugs that include Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and others that belong to a class of prescription medications known as GLP-1 agonists 3 . GLP-1 drugs have garnered an increasing amount of media attention and some notable celebrity endorsements in the U.S., with much of the focus on their use for weight loss, though many of these drugs are also prescribed to treat diabetes or reduce risk of heart attack or stroke.

A large and increasing share of the public say they have heard about GLP-1 drugs, with about eight in ten (82%) adults saying they have heard at least “a little” and about three in ten (32%) saying they have heard “a lot” about these drugs. The share of the public who report having heard about these drugs has increased since July 2023 when seven in ten adults reported having heard at least “a little” about these drugs and one in five (19%) said they had heard “a lot.”

The share who say they have heard “a lot” about these drugs rises to at least four in ten among those who have ever been told by a doctor that they have diabetes (45%) or heart disease (41%) or have been told by a doctor in the past five years that they are overweight or obese (42%) – the primary conditions these drugs are prescribed for.

Across age groups, awareness of these drugs is highest among older adults. About four in ten adults ages 50 to 64 and 65 and older say they have heard “a lot” about GLP-1 drugs, compared to about one-third of adults ages 30-49 (32%) and one in six adults ages 18-29 (17%). Notably, older adults are more likely than their younger peers to have been told by a doctor that they have diabetes or heart disease.

Adults with annual household incomes of $90,000 or greater are more likely than those with lower household incomes to say they have heard “a lot” about these drugs.

Overall, 12% of adults say they have ever used GLP-1 drugs, including 6% who say they are currently using them. The share who report ever taking these drugs rises to about four in ten (43%) among adults who have been told by a doctor that they have diabetes, a quarter (26%) of adults who have been told they have heart disease, and one in five (22%) adults who have been told by a doctor that they are overweight or obese in the past five years (some of whom also have diabetes or heart disease).

Black adults are somewhat more likely than White adults to report ever taking these drugs (18% v. 10%), while 13% of Hispanic adults say they have taken these drugs. KFF’s analysis of Centers for Disease Control (CDC) data shows that Black and Hispanic adults in the U.S. have a higher rate of obesity than White adults. For additional information on obesity rates and racial disparities, see KFF’s policy watch: What are the Implications of New Anti-Obesity Drugs for Racial Disparities?

Similar shares of adults regardless of gender, income, or health insurance coverage report taking these drugs.

Among the 12% of adults who have ever taken GLP-1 drugs, most report taking them, at least in part, to treat a chronic condition like diabetes or heart disease, with fewer saying they took them only to lose weight. Among those who have taken these drugs, six in ten (62%) say they took them to treat a chronic condition like diabetes or heart disease, including about four in ten (39%) who took them only to treat a chronic condition and one in four (23%) who say they took them to both treat a chronic condition and to lose weight. About four in ten (38%) adults who have taken these drugs report using them only to lose weight.

Among all adults, 7% say they have taken or are taking these drugs to treat a chronic condition such as diabetes or heart disease – either alone (5%) or in combination with intent of losing weight (3%) – while 5% of adults report ever taking these drugs to lose weight but not to treat a chronic condition.

About one in five (19%) adults ages 50-64 say they have ever taken GLP-1 drugs, higher than the shares reported by other age groups. Among adults ages 50-64, 15% say they have taken GLP-1 drugs to treat a chronic condition and 5% say they’ve taken them for weight loss only. Few adults under age 50 report having taken these drugs to treat chronic conditions, but similar shares of 18–29-year-olds (7%) and 30–49-year-olds (6%) report having taken them for weight loss. Among adults ages 65 and over, 8% say they have taken a GLP-1 medication for a chronic condition, while just 1% say they have taken these drugs only to lose weight, which may be a reflection of Medicare’s lack of coverage for prescription drugs used for weight loss. Nearly four in ten (37%) adults ages 65 and older report being told by a doctor they are overweight or obese in the past five years.

Alongside the relatively high cost of GLP-1 drugs in the U.S., there have been recent reports of shortages or limited availability of these drugs occurring as demand increases. Recent news reports have emphasized that some adults are seeking generic or compounded versions of these drugs through sources such as medical spas or compounding pharmacies, which may sell products claiming to be name-brand GLP-1s that have not been vetted by the F.D.A.

About eight in ten (79%) adults who have taken GLP-1 drugs report getting these drugs or a prescription for them from their primary care doctor or a specialist, while fewer report getting them from an online provider or website (11%), a medical spa or aesthetic medical center (10%), or from somewhere else (2%).

In the U.S., list prices for GLP-1 drugs can range from $936 to $1,349 before insurance coverage, rebates or coupons. Most insured adults who have taken GLP-1 drugs say their insurance covered at least part of the cost. Among adults with health insurance who report ever taking these drugs, over half (57%) say their health insurance covered part of the cost of these drugs and they paid the rest, while one in four (24%) say their health insurance covered the full cost. One in five (19%) insured adults who have taken GLP-1s say they paid for the full cost themselves.

Despite the fact that few insured adults say they paid the full cost of these drugs themselves, many report difficulty affording them. About half of adults who have taken GLP-1s say it was difficult to afford the cost of these drugs. Among those who have taken these drugs, about half (54%) – including 53% of those with health insurance – say it was either “somewhat” or “very difficult” to afford to pay for these drugs, including one in five (22%) who say it was “very difficult,” including a similar share of adults with health insurance (23%).

Public Opinion on Medicare Coverage of GLP-1s for Weight Loss

While some Medicare drug plans cover the cost of some GLP-1s such as Ozempic or Wegovy when prescribed to treat diabetes or prevent heart attacks or strokes for adults with heart disease, Medicare is currently prohibited by law from covering drugs when prescribed for weight loss – for more information, see KFF’s issue brief on Medicare coverage of GLP-1s . KFF’s latest Health Tracking Poll finds that most adults think Medicare should cover the cost of these drugs when prescribed for weight loss for people who are overweight, with support remaining largely unchanged after hearing arguments for and against this proposal.

Overall, six in ten adults (61%), including similar shares across age groups, say they think Medicare should cover the cost of these drugs when prescribed for weight loss for people who are overweight, a share that rises to about seven in ten (71%) among those who have ever taken these drugs.

While more than half of adults across partisans say Medicare should cover the cost of these drugs for weight loss, Democrats (66%) are somewhat more likely than Republicans (55%) to say this.

Attitudes on some policy proposals may change when the public hears different arguments in favor or against certain proposals. After asking whether Medicare should cover the cost of GLP-1s when prescribed for weight loss for people who are overweight, the poll presented two different arguments for and against this proposal:

Argument against: Some people say that if Medicare covers the cost of these drugs, it could increase premiums paid by people with Medicare and place financial pressure on the Medicare program and the federal budget.

Argument in favor: Others say that if Medicare covers the cost of these drugs, it could help more people afford these medications and improve health and quality of life for people who are overweight.

After being presented with these arguments, the public’s attitudes remain largely unchanged, with six in ten adults still saying they think Medicare should cover the cost of these drugs when prescribed for weight loss for people who are overweight. Attitudes also remained largely unchanged among adults 65 and older, among those who have taken GLP-1s and those who have not, and among independents and Republicans. Among Democrats, there is a slight increase in the share who say Medicare should cover the cost after hearing these arguments (71% after v. 66% before).

• Health Costs
• Tracking Poll
• Prescription Drugs
• Heart Disease
• Medicare Part D
• TOPLINE & METHODOLOGY

news release

• Poll: 1 in 8 Adults Say They’ve Taken a GLP-1 Drug, Including 4 in 10 of Those with Diabetes and 1 in 4 of Those with Heart Disease 

Also of Interest

• Medicare Spending on Ozempic and Other GLP-1s Is Skyrocketing
• A New Use for Wegovy Opens the Door to Medicare Coverage for Millions of People with Obesity
• What are the Implications of New Anti-Obesity Drugs for Racial Disparities?
• How Do Prices of Drugs for Weight Loss in the U.S. Compare to Peer Nations’ Prices?