Media Relations
GLP-1 doubled its share of HARO health requests in 2026
In the first three months of 2026, about one in nine editions of the HARO journalist-request newsletter carried at least one query about GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy or Mounjaro. From August to October it was more than one in five. We counted every HARO edition we received this year, 606 of them, to see how health journalists’ requests for expert comment are shifting.
Key finding: GLP-1 queries appeared in 22.4% of HARO editions from August to 22 October 2026, up from 10.8% in January to March. September was the peak month, at 27.0% (17 of 63 editions).
GLP-1 requests, month by month
| Month (2026) | HARO editions | Editions with a GLP-1 query | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 60 | 3 | 5.0% |
| February | 60 | 5 | 8.3% |
| March | 66 | 12 | 18.2% |
| April | 61 | 12 | 19.7% |
| May | 58 | 12 | 20.7% |
| June | 63 | 10 | 15.9% |
| July | 64 | 11 | 17.2% |
| August | 63 | 10 | 15.9% |
| September | 63 | 17 | 27.0% |
| October (to 22 Oct) | 48 | 12 | 25.0% |
Share = editions containing at least one GLP-1 term ÷ all editions that month. Jan–Mar: 20 of 186 editions. Aug–Oct: 39 of 174.
What the questions are about
In the editions we checked by hand, GLP-1 queries went beyond weight loss: they asked dietitians about nutrition alongside the drugs, obesity-medicine doctors about dosing practices, and diabetes and cancer specialists about effects on other conditions. That fits the rise in the numbers: the drugs now show up across general health coverage, not only weight-loss stories.
Other health topics we tracked
| Topic | Jan–Mar share of editions | Aug–Oct share of editions |
|---|---|---|
| GLP-1 drugs | 10.8% | 22.4% |
| Weight loss (any) | 14.5% | 23.6% |
| Vaccines / measles | 2.2% | 10.3% |
| Peptides | 2.2% | 9.8% |
| Longevity / healthy aging | 13.4% | 18.4% |
| Menopause / perimenopause | 8.1% | 8.0% |
| Gut health / microbiome | 7.0% | 4.0% |
Broad words such as “anxiety”, “skincare” and “supplement” match many unrelated queries, so we leave those topics out of the comparison.
What this means for health brands and experts
If you are an obesity-medicine doctor, dietitian, pharmacist or endocrinologist, GLP-1 requests are now a steady weekly source of coverage, not an occasional one. Have your licence or registration details and any commercial ties ready to share. For a structured approach, see our healthcare media relations service and our guide to HARO for health experts.
Method
- We counted every HARO (Help a Reporter Out) edition delivered to one subscribed inbox from 2 January to 22 October 2026: 606 editions, usually three per weekday, with no editions on five US federal holidays (19 January, 25 May, 19 June, 3 July and 7 September).
- An edition counts for a topic if any query in it contains one of the topic’s terms. GLP-1 terms: GLP-1, Ozempic, Wegovy, semaglutide, tirzepatide, Mounjaro, Zepbound.
- We checked a sample of matches by hand; in each, the term appeared in a journalist’s query rather than in the newsletter’s sponsored blocks. Keyword matching can catch passing mentions, so treat small month-to-month changes with caution.
- This measures how often a topic appears in an edition, not the number of individual queries. One edition can carry several GLP-1 queries.
- We report counts only. We don’t publish query text or name the journalists or outlets behind them.
Frequently asked questions
How often do journalists ask for GLP-1 experts?
In August to October 2026, at least one GLP-1 query appeared in 22.4% of HARO editions, roughly one edition in every four or five.
What is HARO?
HARO (Help a Reporter Out) is a free newsletter that sends journalists’ requests for expert sources three times each weekday. It is now run by Featured.com.
Can I use this data?
Yes. Please cite HealthSpark PR and link to this page. The full monthly data is in the CSV above.
Why count editions rather than queries?
Edition counts can be checked with an inbox search and are consistent month to month. Query-level counts would need every query classified by hand.
Sources
- HealthSpark PR, HARO edition count, 2 Jan – 22 Oct 2026 (CSV linked above).
- HARO, helpareporter.com.