When people in the United States start using appetite suppressants, such as 'Ozempic' and 'Wegovy,' their effects go far beyond weight loss. A new study from Cornell University shows that these drugs are linked to a significant decrease in household spending on food, both on groceries and on meals eaten out. These findings were published in the 'Journal of Marketing Research.' Researchers collected data from surveys on the use of GLP-1 receptor agonists and linked them to detailed purchase records for tens of thousands of American households. These drugs were originally developed to treat diabetes but are now widely used for weight loss. The results show a clear pattern: within six months of starting the medication, households cut their grocery spending by an average of 5.3%. For high-income households, the reduction in grocery spending exceeded 8%. Spending at fast-food restaurants, cafes, and other limited-service establishments also fell by about 8%. Unlike previous studies, this research used actual transaction data covering about 150,000 households. The largest decreases in spending were seen on ultra-processed and high-calorie foods, which are often associated with intense cravings. Spending on salty snacks fell by about 10%.
