Stephen Cadogan: A slimmer appetite but better food – the challenge for agri-food

The significant rise in the number of consumers using weight-loss drugs has implications for Ireland's food industry as users' appetites for previously loved foods changes

People using the drugs eat less and are more selective.

As we move into 2026, we can expect weight-management drugs to have an increasing impact on the global food industry.

According to Julia Buech, a senior consumer foods analyst with Rabobank, 6-8% of people in the UK have tried weight-loss drugs, originally developed for the treatment of diabetes, but now widely adopted for weight-management.