Weight-loss drug users save hundreds on food as uptake triples

British households using drugs such as Wegovy and Ozempic are spending £418 (€485) less on food per year on average – survey

According to the survey of over 11,600 households, users of GLP-1 products such as Mounjaro and Wegovy are buying less food during their weekly shop. Stock picture: Niall Carson/PA

Weight-loss drugs are saving users’ households more than £418 (€485) a year on grocery bills in the UK, according to a survey, which found use of GLP-1s has nearly tripled in the past two years to 1.9m adults.

More than 6.3% of households in Britain now include at least one GLP-1 user, according to the research by Worldpanel by Numerator. This marks a sharp rise from 4.1% of households in 2025 and 2.3% in 2024.

The research showed that, in the year after starting taking the drugs, households with at least one GLP‑1 user spent £780m (€905) less on groceries than expected compared with similar households.

The increase in use of medications such as Mounjaro and Wegovy is also having an impact on grocery spending, according to a survey of more than 11,600 households, as GLP-1 users buy less food at the supermarket.

Grocery spend by households that include a weight-loss jab user has declined by £780m (€905), with 299m fewer items bought during February, when the analysis took place. This equates to a £418 (€485) drop in grocery spending for user households compared with non-user ones.

More than half (52%) of GLP-1 users described their approach to eating as “mindful”, with their food consumption guided by hunger rather than habit, routine or restriction.

More than half (54%) of weight-loss jab users said they experienced fewer cravings and less “food noise”, while one in 10 (11%) users said they no longer enjoyed their usual favourite foods or drinks.

GLP-1 users said they were cutting back on treats: Three quarters (75%) ate less chocolate and a similar number (72%) reduced their consumption of crisps. 

The survey found this claim was supported by their shopping habits, as chocolate confectionery spend fell by 18 percentage points more in GLP-1 user households compared with non-user households.

The change in eating habits among GLP-1 users was not confined to the home. Two-fifths (40%) of people taking weight-loss drugs said they wanted to see smaller portion sizes on restaurant menus, while more than a quarter (26%) requested a GLP-1-friendly section of the menu to choose from when eating out.

Mouthwash sales up due to 'Ozempic mouth'

A common side-effect of weight-loss jabs, a dry mouth and bad breath — known as “Ozempic mouth” — drove some users to buy more mouthwash and chewing gum to counter this, with sales up 20 percentage points and 24 percentage points respectively in GLP-1 user households compared with non-user households.

Chantel Kennaugh, head of public sector and nutrition GB for Worldpanel by Numerator, said: “What was once a specialised treatment, primarily prescribed for type 2 diabetes, has in just a few short years become a mainstream force. Now, 68% of users are taking GLP-1s specifically to lose weight, opening them up to a much wider audience.

“These drugs are fundamentally disrupting how people engage with food and drink, with ripple effects already being felt across grocery and lifestyle, forcing brands and businesses to adapt at pace.” 

M&S targets people on weight-loss drugs

Some retailers have already begun to offer products specifically targeted at consumers taking weight-loss jabs.

Marks & Spencer introduced a range of “nutrient-dense” food at the start of the year, aimed at customers who are eating less, and the online supermarket Ocado has created a virtual “weight management” aisle.

Price has re-emerged as the primary barrier to taking the medication, Worldpanel found, with two-fifths (41%) of users reporting stopping in 2026 because of the cost.

• The Guardian