Households with users of popular weight-loss medications are spending noticeably less on groceries, according to new research highlighting the wider economic impact of GLP-1 treatments.
Data from Worldpanel by Numerator, based on a survey of more than 11,600 households, shows that the number of adults using GLP-1 drugs in Great Britain has nearly tripled over the past two years, reaching around 1.9 million people.
The study found that 6.3% of British households now include at least one GLP-1 user, up from 4.1% in 2025 and 2.3% in 2024.
Researchers estimate that households with a GLP-1 user spent £780 million less on groceries over a year than comparable households would typically spend. On average, this represents a reduction of approximately £418 per household.
The analysis also found that consumers purchased 299 million fewer grocery items during February, reflecting changes in shopping habits linked to the medications.
The growing popularity of drugs such as Mounjaro and Wegovy has been associated with reduced appetite and altered eating patterns. More than half of users surveyed said they now make food choices based on hunger rather than routine or habit.
Around 54% reported experiencing fewer cravings and less "food noise," while 11% said they no longer enjoyed some of their favourite foods and drinks in the same way as before treatment.
The findings suggest that the rapid rise of GLP-1 medications is beginning to influence not only personal health outcomes but also consumer spending patterns across the UK grocery market.