Knowledge, attitudes, information sources, and use of weight-loss injections among adults in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study

Background The growing use and public visibility of injectable weight-loss medications, including GLP-1 receptor agonists and related therapies, have raised important public health concerns regarding knowledge, attitudes, information sources, and safe use. This study assessed knowledge, attitudes, information sources, perceived social media influence, misconceptions, and self-reported use or consideration of weight-loss injections among adults in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia, and examined associations with selected participant characteristics and BMI. Methods This descriptive, cross-sectional study included 718 adults in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia, and was conducted using an online structured questionnaire that was reviewed by experts and pilot-tested before the main data collection. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 29. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize participant characteristics, knowledge, attitudes, information sources, perceived social media influence, and use patterns. Chi-square tests were used to examine associations between weight-loss injection use or consideration and selected participant characteristics. Results Knowledge responses showed uncertainty regarding several aspects of weight-loss injections, particularly their mechanisms and potential adverse effects. Participants generally recognized the risks associated with unsupervised use, while perceptions regarding effectiveness and long-term safety were more varied. Overall, 8.5% of participants reported current or previous use of weight-loss injections, and 8.5% reported considering future use. Among users, tirzepatide was the most commonly reported injection (42.6%), followed by semaglutide (39.3%) and liraglutide (14.8%). Social media was the most frequently reported source of information (62.1%), followed by friends or family (41.5%) and healthcare professionals (39.1%). Use or consideration of weight-loss injections was significantly associated with age group, education level, and BMI category, but not sex. Conclusion Adults in Al-Ahsa showed considerable uncertainty across several knowledge items and generally mixed perceptions regarding the effectiveness and safety of weight-loss injections, with relatively low current or previous use but emerging interest in future use.