March 5, 2025
Weight loss drugs (GLP-1s) have soared in popularity over the last two years, with about 12% of American adults reporting that they’ve used a medication like Ozempic, Wegovy or Mounjaro to slim down. That’s a big slice of the population — and new research shows that being on these medications influences what people spend their money on.
One study, a joint effort by researchers from Cornell University’s SC Johnson College of Business, analyzed food spending data from people who used GLP-1 receptor agonist medications like Ozempic and Wegovy. The researchers discovered that households with at least one member on these medications had a drop in grocery spending by 5.5% within six months of starting the drug. The effect was even bigger in higher-income households, where spending plummeted by 8.6%.
The researchers also found a nearly 9% drop in spending for these households at fast-food chains, coffee shops and limited-service restaurants. They also saw a drop in calorie-dense processed foods like savory snacks and an uptick in nutrient-dense options, such as yogurt and fresh produce.