Assessment of community awareness and attitude about the use of GLP 1 agonists as a treatment for obesity in Saudi Arabia: Cross-sectional study.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are a commonly used class of antidiabetic medications in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity management, and it is important to understand public awareness and attitudes toward GLP-1 RAs. This study aims to identify the level of awareness and knowledge about GLP-1 RAs in a heterogeneous population. This is an online survey study that was conducted in Saudi Arabia between December 2024 and January 2025 to examine community awareness and attitudes regarding the use of GLP-1 agonists as a treatment for obesity in Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire tool for this study was developed based on an extensive literature review. Multiple logistic regressions were performed to identify the predictors of knowledge about GLP-1 agonists. A total of 398 participants were included in the analysis. Regarding the GLP-1 enhancers, the majority (289, 72.6%) had heard of them before participating in the online survey. According to our participants, the most familiar one was mounjaro (262, 65.8%). Social media was the most common source (227, 57.0%). The majority reported using GLP-1 enhancers for weight reduction (319, 80.4%). Common side effects included loss of appetite (276, 69.3%), vomiting (196, 49.2%), and abdominal pain (188, 47.2%). The most frequently mentioned contraindications were pregnancy and lactation (295, 74.1%), pediatric age group (204, 51.3%), and kidney conditions (171, 43.0%). Individuals with an income between 5000 to 10,000 Saudi Arabian riyal (SAR) had significantly less knowledge of GLP-1 enhancers compared to those earning <5000 SAR (OR = 018, 95% CI: 0.03-0.99, P = .04). Additionally, individuals who had previously used or were currently using GLP-1 enhancers were significantly more likely to have better knowledge (OR = 6.56, 95% CI: 1.82-23.66, P = .004). Participants were moderately to highly aware of GLP-1 enhancers. Most people took these drugs to lose weight, with side effects including appetite loss, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Lactation, pregnancy, pediatric usage, and kidney problems were common contraindications. Lower-income groups knew more about GLP-1 enhancers than higher-income ones, and former or present users knew the most. Future studies should examine income-related knowledge gaps and social media's educational potential. GLP-1 enhancers' long-term safety, efficacy, and awareness across varied populations must be assessed in longitudinal research.