GLP-1 users drive seismic shift in US retail habits
Updated
Updated · USA TODAY · May 8
GLP-1 users drive seismic shift in US retail habits
9 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · May 8
PwC says at least 20% of US households had a GLP-1 user by December 2025, up from 9% a year earlier, with grocery basket spending down 3% to 4%.
Users are buying more produce, meat, protein products, supplements and new clothes, while spending less on snacks and quick-service restaurants, prompting manufacturers and retailers to reformulate products and packaging.
Analysts say adoption could accelerate further as drugs become cheaper and more accessible, with effects spreading across food, beauty, fashion and dining as consumers reallocate spending.
As GLP-1s reshape consumer habits, which industries beyond food and fashion face the biggest unforeseen risks and opportunities?
If millions no longer crave snacks, how must the multi-billion dollar processed food industry fundamentally reinvent itself to survive?
With medication now able to alter our brain's reward from food, what are the long-term consequences for our culture and social rituals?
From 5.8% to 12.4%: The Rapid Rise of GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs and Their Economic Ripple Effects
Overview
Between 2025 and 2026, GLP-1 weight-loss medications rapidly gained popularity, reaching 12.4% of U.S. adults by late 2025. This surge was driven by the FDA approval of oral GLP-1 drugs, which reduced hesitancy toward injections and opened the market to new users. Biologically, these drugs increase feelings of fullness and reduce cravings, leading users to eat smaller portions and choose healthier foods. This shift caused a major demand drop in calorie-dense products, prompting the food industry to reformulate offerings and adjust portion sizes. Simultaneously, the apparel market saw shrinking demand for larger sizes and increased clothing purchases due to body changes. Overall, GLP-1 adoption is reshaping consumer spending and could boost the economy, though high costs risk unequal access.