There’s no denying the popularity of weight-loss drugs in the United States, with one in eight adults relying on GLP-1s to shed pounds or treat a chronic condition, according to a November survey by health policy organization KFF.
The GLP-1 industry is generating billions in revenue – and growing. Medications, like Ozempic and Wegovy, raked in more than $31 billion in revenue for Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk in 2024, accounting for meaningful chunk of Denmark’s GDP, Reuters reports.
Weight loss drugs have also rapidly spread through the cultural zeitgeist with celebrities endorsing and admitting their use of the products. Social media is alight with conversation over the drugs with hashtags like “Ozempic face” being used to describe the apparent effects of rapid weight-loss. And it’s possible we’ll see greater uptake of GLP-1s now that the drugs, once only available as injectables, are being made in pill form.
But the impact of GLP-1s stretches far beyond the health and well-being of those using them: they’re impacting revenues — for better or worse — in a swath of industries.
Studies show that GLP-1 use contributes to lower spending on groceries and fast food. Weight loss can change patients’ eating habits and appetite, according to Nicolette Pace, a registered dietitian based in New York.
“When they’re losing weight, people sometimes go, ‘I’m not as hungry’ … and ‘I just don’t eat as much as I used to,’” Pace told The Independent.
GLP-1s can also curb cravings because they impact “reward centers” of the brain, according to Dr. Will Haas, a board-certified integrative medicine physician in North Carolina.
“You’re not getting that same kind of reward feedback loop from some of the ultra-processed foods,” he told The Independent.
It appears grocery baskets are taking a hit. Households with at least one GLP-1 user saw their grocery spending drop by more than 5 percent within six months, according to a study published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Market Research in December.
A study published in January, by the consulting firm Bain & Company, also revealed that U.S. consumers taking GLP-1s spend an average of 5 percent less on fast food.
Some of the biggest fast food companies are already seeing falling sales and economic analysts have described weight loss drugs as “demand disruptors” in the industry, CBS News reported.
McDonald’s could lose up to 28 million customer visits and $482 million per year due to the growing popularity of GLP-1 medications, Redburn Atlantic, a financial analysis firm, told CBS News.
Some food companies are trying new marketing schemes to appeal to weight-loss drug users. In groceries stores across the U.S., more and more products are being labeled as “GLP-1 friendly,” especially if the items are high in protein. However, these labels are unregulated, which means patients should still read ingredient lists and consult with their doctors about their diet, according to the Associated Press.
Pace warns that people looking to lose weight can’t just eat less — they also have to consider making healthier food choices.
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