Signal GLP-1 penetration in Europe is estimated at about 2% of the population

Summary

McKinsey reports that GLP-1 use in Europe remains limited, with penetration estimated at around 2 percent of the population, citing an ING analysis from March 2026. It attributes the lower uptake to three factors: the drugs are less widely available, reimbursement conditions are more restrictive, and some countries have lower obesity rates. This contrasts with the United States, where roughly one in six households had at least one member who had tried GLP-1s by July 2024. It also differs from Brazil, where patent expirations in March 2026 are expected to bring cheaper options and faster adoption. The European case shows that the spread of these drugs, and their knock-on effects on food demand, will vary considerably by market.