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GLP-1 users change the grocery list
One drug, one household
Everyone in the home eats from the same grocery list, so the effect reaches past the person on the drug. JP Morgan's base case projection is that GLP-1 use will drain the food industry of $30 billion to $55 billion, as soon as 2030.
Fresh over packaged
Shoppers thinking harder about their health are looking for more protein and more fiber, and they are moving away from the center aisles toward the periphery of the store, where the fresher goods are: produce, vegetables, and smoothies. Studies show GLP-1s can lead to muscle loss and can cause gastrointestinal issues, and snack makers have to weigh what that means for the foods these customers want.
Snack makers feel it
The shift lands hardest on the makers of snacks sold in the middle of the store, who counted many of these same people among their best customers. In the frozen aisle, the shopper food makers picture looks over a plethora of options hunting for protein and fiber, and also wants something that feels good to eat.
Why do shoppers move to store edges?
Grocery stores put produce, dairy, meat, and bakery along the outer walls, where fresh goods are restocked. Refrigeration cases and loading access also run along the perimeter. Shelf-stable packaged foods such as snacks, cereal, and canned goods fill the middle aisles.
Why can weight loss cost muscle?
When the body runs a calorie deficit, it draws on fat and on lean tissue, including muscle. In the 68-week STEP 1 trial of semaglutide, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2021, participants lost an average of about 15 percent of body weight. A body-composition substudy found that roughly 40 percent of the weight lost was lean mass.
Why do these drugs upset the stomach?
The drugs slow gastric emptying, so food stays in the stomach longer. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation were the most commonly reported side effects in the STEP 1 trial. Most cases were mild to moderate, according to the trial report.