Are GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs Changing What People Buy?
Peter Paumgardhen | Last update: 25th May 2025
New research suggests that GLP-1 weight loss medications may do more than reduce hunger. They may also be reshaping how entire households shop for food.
GLP-1 weight loss drugs changing shopping habits?
New research suggests they might. A major study from Cornell University tracked the shopping behaviour of 150,000 US households. It found that GLP-1 weight loss drugs, like Ozempic and Wegovy, may influence not just the individual’s food choices, but the whole household’s shopping habits.
Large study reveals a shift in food purchasing
A major study from Cornell University tracked the shopping habits of 150,000 households in the United States. It found that within six months of one person starting GLP-1 treatment, grocery spending dropped by an average of 5.5%.
That reduction climbed to 8.6% in higher-income households. The biggest decreases were seen in purchases of calorie-dense processed foods, like savoury snacks, which fell by roughly 11%. At the same time, spending on healthier items, such as fresh produce and yoghurt, stayed the same or even increased slightly.
This suggests that the influence of GLP-1 weight loss drugs may go beyond the individual user. When one family member begins treatment, the entire household may buy food differently.
Promising results, but more research is needed
While the Cornell study offers powerful insights, it has not yet been peer-reviewed, so it hasn’t undergone the formal academic validation process.
Social psychologist John Magnus Ros points out that although the data shows significant behavioural changes, we still don’t know whether the medication or the motivation to eat better is driving them. Future placebo-controlled studies are needed (Source).
Not a quick fix: Lifestyle still matters
GLP-1 drugs can help users avoid unhealthy food, but they are not magic solutions. You still need to make conscious decisions. The medication may reduce hunger, but food remains tempting. Long-term success still depends on consistent lifestyle changes.
What lies ahead: Access and long-term impact
GLP-1 treatments remain expensive today, but prices may fall with more competition. That could make these medications accessible to a broader group of people.
But questions remain: How long will people stay on them? What are the long-term effects? These still need answers.
What does this mean for the SlimrChat community?
If the findings from the Cornell study are confirmed, GLP-1 weight loss drugs may do more than help individuals slim down. They could reshape food culture in the home, encouraging healthier shopping habits for the whole family.
Have your shopping habits changed since starting GLP1 treatment? Share your experience in the SlimrChat Forum now.