Whoopi Goldberg’s GLP-1 disclosure produced the largest short-term spike in appointments, Zocdoc data shows

Revelations by public figures that they use GLP-1 prescription drugs for weight loss were followed by measurable, short-term increases in appointment bookings on telehealth marketplace Zocdoc, with Whoopi Goldberg’s disclosure producing the largest single jump, the company’s data shows.

Zocdoc reported a 29% increase in appointments for GLP-1 drugs in the days after Goldberg said on March 19, 2024, that she had taken Mounjaro. The site recorded a 27% rise following tennis star Serena Williams’s announcement tied to a telehealth campaign she debuted on Aug. 21, and an 18% increase in the 72 hours after Oprah Winfrey disclosed in December 2023 that she was using a GLP-1 medication. Singer Meghan Trainor’s March disclosure was associated with an 11% bump, while Kelly Clarkson’s May 13, 2024, admission produced a 6% rise.

The timing of some announcements overlapped with broader developments in the clinical and regulatory landscape, which Zocdoc cautioned can also drive patient behavior. For example, the surge that followed Goldberg’s comment came about a week and a half after the Food and Drug Administration approved Wegovy to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke and cardiovascular death in overweight or obese adults — a regulatory decision that likely amplified public attention to the drugs.

Celebrities offered varied explanations for their use of GLP-1s in interviews and public statements. Winfrey, 71, said in an interview published Dec. 13, 2023, that the availability of a medically approved prescription for managing weight felt like "relief" and that she was done with shaming. Williams, 43, told People that after having her first child she struggled to lose weight despite training and diet changes and credited a GLP-1 with a 31-pound loss. Meghan Trainor said on Instagram that after her second pregnancy she worked with a dietician, exercised and used Mounjaro as part of her approach. Clarkson, 41, disclosed on her show that she was taking a medication that helps break down sugar but did not name the drug.

Jessica Aptman, chief communications officer at Zocdoc, said celebrity disclosures routinely influence health and wellness behavior. "We have seen time and again that celebrities influence people’s health and wellness choices," she said, adding that announcements from well-known figures often correlate with waves of related searches and appointment bookings. Aptman noted that broader factors — including seasonal trends, regulatory updates and increased supply of care — also shape patient behavior and can coincide with celebrity-driven interest.

Interest in GLP-1 drugs has risen amid expanding clinical use and growing public discussion. Several other public figures have said they used GLP-1 medications, naming brands such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound, while others have described short-term trials. Among those who have openly discussed use are Sharon Osbourne, Kathy Bates, Kandi Burruss, Jim Gaffigan, Harvey Fierstein and Billie Jean King. Comedians and hosts including Amy Schumer, Chelsea Handler and James Corden have said they tried such drugs but did not necessarily continue long term.

Public disclosures appear to prompt immediate, measurable interest in appointments, but experts and platform representatives stress that media attention is one of several drivers of patient demand. Regulatory approvals, increased provider availability and public discussion about the drugs’ benefits and risks all contribute to spikes in searches and bookings. As GLP-1 medications remain a prominent topic in public health conversations, platforms that connect patients with care are likely to continue tracking how high-profile disclosures influence short-term behavior and longer-term demand.