43% of Brits feel more pressure to lose weight now than they did two years ago, our new survey reveals
Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro – once confined to medical journals, these names are now whispered at dinner parties, splashed across TikTok feeds, and debated on red carpets. Weight-loss treatments have become part of the cultural conversation – sparking excitement, curiosity, and concern in equal measure.
With so much attention now given to these treatments, we wanted to understand how people in the UK are really feeling about weight, body image, and the different approaches to managing them.
To find out, GP Nutrition commissioned a survey of 2,004 adults across the UK. And what we’ve discovered reflects not just individual choices, but a true cultural moment.
A growing pressure to lose weight
Fashion and celebrity culture have set the tone for body ideals for decades – with no sign of stopping. Our survey found that today almost half of Brits (43%) say they’re feeling more pressure to lose weight now than they did two years ago, with one in three respondents (31%) directly citing changing body trends as the reason.
Social media (20%), celebrities and influencers (18%), and glossy fashion standards (23%) all add to the chorus. The result? Many people are turning to quick fixes, even as they worry about long-term consequences.
The rise – and risk – of injections
One in five respondents (21%) had either tried or considered medical weight-loss injections, often to achieve rapid results. Worryingly, 41% admitted they had sourced injections online without a prescription, while over a third (35%) had obtained them through friends or family.
This highlights a key issue: medications like Mounjaro should only be taken with the support of a trained medical professional properly qualified to give guidance about their limits and benefits – including potential side effects.
Looking for natural alternatives
Despite the interest in injections, many people are seeking gentler, everyday ways to support a healthy weight. More than a quarter (28%) of respondents said they would prefer a natural approach, such as dietary fibre-based supplements, while 31% said they were concerned about the potential side effects of medical treatments.
At the same time, 55% of people admitted to feeling overwhelmed by the amount of conflicting advice around weight loss and nutrition – making it hard to know what to trust.
Finding balance in a noisy world
A former model, our founder Gabriela Peacock became a nutritionist after years of hearing confusing, misleading and sometimes harmful dietary advice. Now, she pushes back against social pressures to meet perceived standards of perfection, cutting through the noise with science-backed wellness solutions that fit into real life. “Perfection isn’t the goal,” she says. “Feeling good is.”
Weight-loss injections will no doubt stay in the spotlight, but the current research shows that people who stop using them tend to regain most of their lost weight within a year. No wonder then, that our survey found that many of us are also looking for more natural, sustainable ways to help support a healthy weight – like dietary fibre.
Fibre: your natural ally
Dietary fibre helps to support satiety, balance blood sugar, and keep energy steady – yet 90% of UK adults don’t eat enough.
Read more: Why is fibre important?
That’s why Gabriela created Fibre capsules and MetaboliseMe™. Both contain glucomannan, a natural fibre from konjac root, and the only ingredient with a European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)-approved health claim for weight loss support*.
Glucomannan helps to promote a natural feeling of fullness, helping you to feel more satisfied from less food – in a similar way to how weight-loss drugs work, but more subtly and gradually. Amazingly, three-quarters (74%) of our survey respondents had never heard of this natural alternative.
“Real-life wellness means meeting yourself where you are, and making choices that are supportive, not punitive,” says Gabriela. “Used as part of a healthy diet, Fibre capsules and MetaboliseMe™ offer natural ways to support a transition away from weight-loss medication more gently and effectively.”
Read more: Coming off a weight-loss drug? Here’s how fibre can be your natural ally
Learn more about Fibre and MetaboliseMe™
*Glucomannan is the only ingredient with an EU-approved health claim for weight loss support, and is included in both GP Nutrition’s Fibre and MetaboliseMe™ supplements.
**MetaboliseMe™ contains chromium, which contributes to the maintenance of normal blood glucose levels.
