What to know
- Nearly a month after Health Canada approved its first genetic semaglutide medication for weight loss, interest in these kinds of medications is growing according to a MedExpress study.
- British Columbia leads in Google searches for these medications with 39,543 searches per 100,000 residents, followed by Ontario with 38,513 searches.
- Nunavut had the lowest interest with 11,748 searches, while Prince Edward Island led in interest growth 8.5 per cent more searches between 2024 and 2025.
- Vancouver was the city with the most searches, with 66,535 per 100,000 residents, while Toronto ranked fifth with 53,951 searches.
- Meanwhile, most residents said they’ve learned about these medications through social media (58 per cent), and only nine per cent said they’ve heard of it through a healthcare professional.
With generic semaglutide injections now approved in Canada, a new study is revealing interest in weight loss medication is on the rise.
Last month, Health Canada approved its first genetic semaglutide medication for weight loss, SEVMIA, making it available for residents. The medication mimics a natural blood sugar regulating hormone, increasing satiety and slowing digestion, and can be used for chronic weight management.
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The MedExpress study has analyzed Google search results across 50 Canadian cities and surveyed 1,000 residents about weight loss medication, revealing that overall interest is on the rise, especially in certain cities.
B.C. leads in interest, followed by Ontario
British Columbia was found to be the province with the most curiosity about weight loss medication, with 39,543 searches per 100,000 residents.
Following up was Ontario, with 38,513 searches, and Nova Scotia with 37,881.
Nunavut was the province with the lowest medication interest, with only 11,748 searches, three times lower than in B.C.
While B.C. leads in searches, other provinces have seen the most growth in interest. In Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia, interest has grown 8.5 per cent and 7.2 per cent respectively between 2024 and 2025. Meanwhile, during the same period, searches decreased in B.C. by 2.8 per cent, and in Quebec by 7.4 per cent.
Toronto ranks 5th in medication interest
When it comes to a city-by-city search analysis, Toronto is ranked fifth in the list, with 53,951 searches per 100,000 residents.
Leading the list is Vancouver, with 66,535 searches, followed by Burnaby with 60,901 searches, and St. John’s, N.L. with 56,784.
Although B.C. cities continue to top the list, Ontario is leading in curiosity growth, with five of its cities among the eight fastest growing for weight loss medication searches. In Barrie, interest has grown 9.1 per cent between 2024 and 2025, followed by Cambridge and Oshawa with a 7.4 per cent and 7.3 per cent respectively.
Most people learn about medication through social media
While searches for weight loss medication are increasing, the study warns many are navigating mixed information and limited guidance on its use, as most surveyed residents admitted first hearing about it through social media rather than a medical professional.
According to the study, 58 per cent of respondents said they first heard about weight loss medication through social media, while 39 per cent first saw it on TV or news articles, 30 per cent through online ads, and 25 per cent from a celebrity or influencer.
Meanwhile, only nine per cent said they learned about these medications through a doctor or healthcare professional.
Although most awareness of these medications didn’t come through celebrities, according to the study, 83 per cent of respondents agreed that celebrities and influencers have helped to normalize the use of these medications.
Overall, 93 per cent of the surveyed residents said they’d heard of weight loss medication before, while six per cent said they were using them, and 16 per cent said they were considering it.
