Trending Now - Food Companies Adapt as GLP-1 Drugs Shift Eating Habits

WHO:

President Trump is mentioned in the context of the broader discussion on health and wellness trends.

Ziyad Al-Aly, MD, a clinical epidemiologist at Washington University School of Medicine.

Robert Glatter, MD, attending physician at Lenox Hill Hospital and assistant professor at Zucker School of Medicine.

Marty Thompson, CEO of Nestle USA.

Ramon Laguarta, CEO of PepsiCo.

Russell Weiner, CEO of Domino's Pizza.

Chris Kempczinski, CEO of McDonald's.

Rick Cardenas, CEO of Darden Restaurants.

Dan Fachner, CEO of J&J Snack Foods.

WHAT:

Approximately one in eight American adults are currently taking GLP-1 drugs for weight loss and diabetes treatment.

Adults using GLP-1s consume 21% fewer calories and spend nearly a third less on grocery bills on average.

The growing use of GLP-1 medications could result in a loss of $30 billion to $55 billion in annual sales for the food and beverage industry by 2030.

A study found that 26% of participants stopped taking GLP-1 medications, and 23% had interruptions of 6 months or more.

Continuous use of GLP-1s is associated with an 18% reduction in major cardiovascular events.

An interruption of GLP-1 use for 6 months can lead to a 4% to 8% increase in cardiovascular risk.

Discontinuing GLP-1s for 1 to 2 years results in a 14% to 22% increased risk of cardiovascular events compared to continuous use.

WHERE:

The study analyzed participants from the VA Saint Louis Health Care System.

The commercial for GLP-1 drugs aired during Super Bowl LX in Los Angeles, California.

WHEN:

The KFF Health Tracking Poll was conducted from October 27th to November 2nd, 2025.

Novo Nordisk launched its Wegovy pill in January 2026.

The study published in BMJ Medicine analyzed data over a 3-year period.

The survey conducted by EY-Parthenon took place in spring 2025.

The earnings conference calls for PepsiCo and Domino's Pizza occurred in early February 2026.

WHY:

The popularity of GLP-1 drugs is driven by their effectiveness in treating type 2 diabetes and obesity.

Many individuals discontinue GLP-1 medications due to cost, side effects, or shortages.

HOW:

The study compared outcomes of 132,551 individuals prescribed GLP-1 medications with 201,136 prescribed sulfonylureas.

The research team checked participants’ GLP-1 treatment status every 6 months.

(UPDATED March 21, 2026 19:08 UTC)

Today, President Trump was mentioned in a discussion about health and wellness trends, highlighting the growing use of GLP-1 medications among American adults, with approximately one in eight currently taking these drugs for weight loss and diabetes treatment. A recent study found that adults using GLP-1s consume 21% fewer calories and could lead to a significant loss of $30 billion to $55 billion in annual sales for the food and beverage industry by 2030, although many individuals discontinue these medications due to cost or side effects. The research analyzed data from over 330,000 participants, revealing that continuous use of GLP-1s is linked to an 18% reduction in major cardiovascular events, while interruptions in use can increase cardiovascular risk significantly.