Americans use GLP‑1 more for weight loss than diabetes
Users are eating fewer sweet and salty snacks and buying smaller clothes, a survey found.
25 Oct 2026 0 reads Compiled with AI
More than half of Americans taking semaglutide medicines such as Ozempic and Wegovy use them to lose weight. Roughly 54% of users do so, a share that now exceeds those who take the drugs for diabetes or other medical conditions, according to research by EY-Parthenon.
Weight loss overtakes diabetes use
People who take GLP-1 drugs report eating fewer unhealthy foods and less alcohol. Sixty-three percent say they have cut sweet snacks, and 57% eat fewer salty ones, according to the survey.
Retailers are adjusting to the new habits. Don Johnson, a principal at EY-Parthenon, said manufacturers and retailers are making more room on shelves for GLP-1-friendly foods, protein-enhanced items and smaller portions. He added that the shift is seen as a lasting structural change, not a fad.
GLP-1 use also changes what people wear. EY-Parthenon found that 72% of users sized down after rapidly losing weight, needing new wardrobes. Roughly half increased spending on fitness services, while 46% switched apparel brands. Users are also gravitating toward fitted clothing, swimwear and athletic wear.
The drugs are reaching a broader audience. New forms, such as a pill, and lower prices have made them more accessible to younger, lower-income and male consumers. A Trump administration agreement last year with Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk cut the cost of Ozempic and Wegovy to between $150 and $350 a month, down from about $1,000. The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program gives eligible beneficiaries access for $50 a month.
Researchers are also looking at other effects. Experts at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania are starting a first-of-its-kind study of whether the drugs can curb temptations such as luxury purchases and gambling, by examining how GLP-1s influence the brain's reward system.