Ozempic Users Are Buying Way Less Of These Foods, New Study Finds
GLP-1 receptor agonist medications like Ozempic may do more than just change your waistline—they could influence how you shop at the grocery store. That’s the major takeaway from a new study exploring food spending in users of these medications.
People who took the drugs made different food choices—and the medications may have even helped them save money on groceries, according to the study. Here’s what you need to know.
Meet the experts: Dina Peralta-Reich, MD, is an obesity medicine specialist and founder of New York Weight Wellness Medicine. Mir Ali, MD, is the medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California.
What did the study find?
The study, which was published in the journal SSRN in December, analyzed data from 150,000 households and specifically explored the purchases of GLP-1 users.
Overall, the researchers discovered that the average person who used these medications spent 5.5 percent less at the grocery store during their first six months on the drug. The shift was even starker for people with higher incomes, who spent about 8.6 percent less while food shopping.
The researchers also looked at what these people were spending their money on. They found that that, in general, users bought fewer snack foods, sweets, and other calorie-dense items, as well as so-called "impulse" purchases like chips. Users of these medications were also more likely to consistently buy nutrient-dense foods like yogurt, fresh produce, and nutrition bars.
Not only that, the study found that people taking GLP-1 receptor agonists spent less at fast food chains and coffee shops, especially during breakfast and dinner.
“Our findings highlight the potential for GLP-1 medications to significantly reshape consumer food demand, a trend with increasingly important implications for the food industry as adoption continues to grow,” the researchers wrote in the conclusion.
How does Ozempic affect grocery shopping?
This is just one study, so it’s hard to say for sure that going on a medication like Ozempic will help you save money on your grocery bill. But people on these drugs—including Oprah Winfrey—often say they help reduce “food noise,” which refers to constant thoughts about eating.
The medications are also designed to help users feel less hungry. As a result, people on these drugs may buy fewer groceries, simply because they’re eating less.
What should I eat while taking Ozempic?
While you can technically eat whatever you want while taking a medication like Ozempic, doctors generally recommend you reach for some foods over others.
It’s usually best to fill your plate with healthy and nutritious options like lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, and complex carbohydrates. You should avoid high-fat and processed foods, Dina Peralta-Reich, MD, an obesity medicine specialist and founder of New York Weight Wellness Medicine, previously told Women’s Health.
There’s also a big push to eat plenty of protein, which can help lower the risk of losing lean muscle mass as you lose weight, says Mir Ali, MD, the medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California.
If you’re on a GLP-1 receptor agonist medication, it’s best to check in with your prescribing doctor about the best foods to eat. They should be able to offer personalized guidance.
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