Canada's GLP-1 Curiosity Map: Where Searches Are Surging

Interest in GLP-1 medications has surged in recent years. As more Canadians seek information about them, online search patterns reveal how people are learning about GLP-1s and where curiosity is growing fastest. To better understand these trends, MedExpress analysed Google search data across 50 Canadian cities and surveyed more than 1,000 Canadian adults about their awareness and attitudes toward GLP-1 medications.

Key takeaways

• British Columbia leads all provinces in GLP-1 searches with 39,543 per 100K residents - over 3x the volume of Nunavut (11,748), the lowest in the country.
• Vancouver, BC, leads all 50 cities with 66,535 GLP-1 searches per 100K residents - more than 6x the volume of last-place Langley (10,490).
• Searches for "GLP-1 side effects" increased 437% nationally in the past year.
• 58% of Canadians first heard about GLP-1 medications through social media, compared to only 9% hearing about them from a doctor or healthcare provider.
• 83% of Canadians agree that celebrities and influencers have made prescription GLP-1 medication more normalised.
• 1 in 4 Canadians said fear of judgment has prevented or delayed them from seeking professional help for their health.

Provincial curiosity around GLP-1 medications

Online search trends offer a window into how people learn about new medications. Across Canada, growing curiosity about GLP-1s suggests more people are actively researching how these medications work and what to expect.

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British Columbia ranked first among all provinces for GLP-1 search activity, with 39,543 searches per 100,000 residents. Nunavut recorded the lowest level of interest at 11,748 per capita, over three times lower than British Columbia's volume.

Top 5 provinces searching for GLP-1s per 100K residents

1. British Columbia (39,543)
2. Ontario (38,513)
3. Nova Scotia (37,881)
4. Alberta (37,033)
5. Quebec (34,776)

While British Columbia currently leads overall search activity, momentum is shifting in other regions. Atlantic Canada posted the strongest growth between 2024 and 2025, with Prince Edward Island seeing an 8.5% increase and Nova Scotia rising by 7.2%. During the same period, search interest declined slightly in British Columbia (-2.8%) and Quebec (-7.4%).

Interest in GLP-1 safety and education also surged. Searches for "GLP-1 side effects" rose by 437% nationwide over the past year, suggesting Canadians are increasingly seeking information about potential risks. Sherbrooke and Laval saw the biggest increases, each rising by 900%.

The cities leading Canada's GLP-1 search boom

Search activity also varies dramatically at the city level, revealing pockets of intense interest where conversations around GLP-1 medications appear especially active.

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Vancouver ranked as the clear leader among the 50 cities analyzed, recording 66,535 GLP-1-related searches per 100,000 residents. This volume was more than six times Langley's, which ranked last with 10,490 searches per capita.

Burnaby and St. John's followed Vancouver as two of the cities showing the highest overall search activity. These findings highlight how interest spans multiple regions across the country, rather than being limited to a single market.

Top 10 Most GLP-1 Curious Cities

1. Vancouver, BC — 66,535 per 100K
2. Burnaby, BC — 60,901 per 100K
3. St. John's, NL — 56,784 per 100K
4. Kelowna, BC — 55,687 per 100K
5. Toronto, ON — 53,951 per 100K
6. Halifax, NS — 47,588 per 100K
7. Calgary, AB — 46,657 per 100K
8. Waterloo, ON — 46,527 per 100K
9. Kingston, ON — 46,390 per 100K
10. Montreal, QC — 43,799 per 100K

Ontario stood out for its momentum, with 3 of the 8 fastest-growing cities for GLP-1 searches located there. Barrie (+9.1%), Cambridge (+7.4%), and Oshawa (+7.3%) led with the highest growth in search volume from 2024 to 2025.

How Canadians are learning about GLP-1s

Awareness of GLP-1s has spread quickly in recent years. The survey results show how Canadians are discovering these medications and how they view them.

Awareness levels were remarkably high. A total of 93% of Canadians said they had heard of GLP-1 medications. While 6% reported already using them, another 16% said they were seriously considering trying a GLP-1 medication.

More than half of Canadians (58%) said they first heard about GLP-1 medications through social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, or Facebook. Just 9% reported learning about them from a doctor or healthcare provider. This gap highlights a shift in how people access health information and underscores the importance of ensuring that interest is supported by credible, coordinated care.

Influencer culture may also be shaping perceptions. A strong majority of Canadians (83%) agreed that celebrities and influencers have helped normalise the use of prescription GLP-1 medications.

Generational attitudes also differed. Millennials appeared the most open to GLP-1 medications, with 45% saying they are curious, considering trying one, or have already tried one. Gen Z showed lower openness at 34%.

Healthcare barriers to overcome

One-quarter of Canadians said fear of judgment has prevented or delayed them from seeking professional help for their health. Women reported this experience more often than men (28% vs. 21%). For many, accessing care in a more private and flexible way can help reduce these barriers.

Cost concerns were another major factor. Nearly half of Canadians (45%) said the price of medication or lack of insurance coverage would make them hesitant to try a GLP-1.

Conclusion

Interest in GLP-1 medications is rising across Canada, but many Canadians are still navigating mixed information, limited guidance, and barriers that can delay care. As more people explore their options, care models that combine clinical oversight with flexible, virtual access can help make the process clearer and more accessible.

Methodology

To identify where Canadians are searching for GLP-1 medications most, MedExpress analysed Google search volume data for GLP-1 related terms across all provinces and 50 major Canadian cities from January 2023 through February 2026. Total search volume for each city was normalised per 100,000 residents using Statistics Canada population estimates to allow for direct comparisons across markets of different sizes. Year-over-year growth figures reflect the change in total search volume between full calendar years 2024 and 2025.

MedExpress also conducted an online survey of 1,013 Canadian adults in March 2026. Gender representation includes 50% women and 48% men. Generational representation includes millennials (50%), Gen Z (30%), Gen X (16%), and baby boomers (4%).

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