Brits are now spending an average of £151 a month on Ozempic and Wegovy
UK consumers are pouring significant money into weight-loss medications, with those purchasing drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy spending an average of £151 per month, new data from Barclays shows.
The figure, released in the bank’s latest monthly analysis of card spending patterns, positions weight-loss drugs as the highest-value health purchase within the pharmacy, health, and beauty category.
This category itself posted robust growth of 6.4% year-on-year in February and has now expanded for 59 consecutive months – a streak that, if continued into March, would mark five full years of uninterrupted month-on-month increases.
“Weight loss drugs, however, emerged as the highest value health purchase, with those who have bought them having spent £151 per person on average,” said Karen Johnson, Head of Retail at Barclays .
The £151 average reflects spending among actual purchasers of these GLP-1 medications. It is not a per-capita figure across the entire population but rather the typical monthly outlay for users sourcing them privately, as NHS access for pure weight-loss purposes remains limited and often requires meeting strict criteria such as high BMI plus comorbidities.
Data from YouGov shows around 8% of Britons (4.3 million people) have already used these drugs, while 14% (7.6 million) would consider them in the future.
Private market prices for these injections typically range from around £150–£300 per month depending on dose, provider, and whether it’s Wegovy or off-label Ozempic (frequently £150–£250).
The Barclays average of £151 aligns closely with lower-end or introductory/maintenance dosing in the private sector, where many Brits turn due to long NHS waiting lists or ineligibility.
The surge reflects broader wellness priorities amid a cultural shift toward health and fitness. Barclays’ consumer research shows that one in three (33%) UK adults now rank health and fitness as a top spending priority for 2026, rising to 43% among Gen Z.
Overall, 53% of consumers report focusing more on wellbeing this year, with actions like reducing processed foods (54%) and increasing fibre intake (46%) gaining traction.
Barclays also highlighted emerging “GLP-1-friendly” product trends in food retail, with 20% of consumers noticing more advertising for smaller portions or nutritionally adjusted options tailored to users of these appetite-suppressing drugs – though 49% admit confusion over the term “GLP-1,” and 44% view smaller-portioned products as overpriced.
