Ozempic is Reshaping the Fast Food Industry (philippdubach.com)
- Reference: 0180634076
- News link: https://science.slashdot.org/story/26/01/21/191222/ozempic-is-reshaping-the-fast-food-industry
- Source link: https://philippdubach.com/posts/ozempic-is-reshaping-the-fast-food-industry/
The study analyzed transaction data from 150,000 households linked to survey responses on medication adoption. Households cut grocery spending by 5.3% within six months of a member starting GLP-1s; high-income households cut by 8.2%. Fast food spending fell 8.0%. Savory snacks took the biggest hit at 10.1%, followed by sweets and baked goods. Yogurt was the only category to see a statistically significant increase.
As of July 2024, 16.3% of U.S. households had at least one GLP-1 user. Nearly half of adopters reported taking the medication specifically for weight loss rather than diabetes management. About 34% of users discontinue within the sample period, and when they stop, candy and chocolate purchases rise 11.4% above pre-adoption levels.
Further reading : [2]Weighing the Cost of Smaller Appetites .
[1] https://philippdubach.com/posts/ozempic-is-reshaping-the-fast-food-industry/
[2] https://indiadispatch.com/p/weighing-the-cost-of-smaller-appetites
Recognizing Greatness. (Score:2)
> Nearly half of adopters reported taking the medication specifically for weight loss rather than diabetes management.
* wide eye *
* side eye *
* snort *
In the category of Most Laughable Statistic, the reported results of "Do you masturbate?" was just dethroned.
In other news, diabetes statistics around the 90210 area code have oddly spiked 7,327% in one year..
Re: (Score:3)
Technically obesity is causal to type 2 diabetes.
So GLP-1 is prophylaxis for diabetes.
Re: (Score:2)
Correct. And diabetes can be reversed.
Re: (Score:2)
Are you saying diabetes and obesity are fake? Self-inflicted? Both? What is the point of your comment?
I'd say it's more accurate that you resent other people receiving benefits that you aren't. We are talking about a serious health problem impacting a huge portion of society here, you're talking about conspiracy theories.
Re: Recognizing Greatness. (Score:2)
My issue with drugs like Ozempic is that often the underlying cause of the weight gain is not addressed. Thus, when people get off the drug, there is a return to the weight issue ( [1]1 [nih.gov] and [2]2 [bmj.com]). While the drugs can be effective to initiate the weight loss, absent the appropriate changes to address the underlying issue, the treatment is not effective. If taxpayer or insurance funds are going to be used, the treatment should be part of a plan that tackles the underlying cause.
[1] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12155999/
[2] https://www.bmj.com/content/392/bmj-2025-085304
Re: (Score:2)
The obvious answer is obvious. Gov mandate that GLP-1 microdoses are present in all foods. Then "going off it and regaining weight" is no longer a concern.
Of course, major food conglomerates will fight that tooth and nail as it would reduce profits.
Re: (Score:2)
Weight loss IS diabetes management.
The statistic is a side effect of terminology combined with general stupidity. The drug, even though identical, has different names for different medical justifications.
what about later discontinuance? (Score:2)
"About 34% of users discontinue within the sample period, and when they stop, candy and chocolate purchases rise 11.4% above pre-adoption levels."
Ok, but what about the people who discontinue use later? Most of them gain most of the weight back, some gain back more, most of these are probably also eating fast food.
I have an alternate theory, it's the economy stupid. After people go broke with Rx copay they and as costs increase they can't afford to go back to their old habits, except the higher income house
And a new Sport (Score:2)
An Ozempic Assleet.
On a more serious note I use small bouts of fasting, like skipping a meal, which helps in keeping both under control. You also get mental clarity. This helped me avoid the diabetes my siblings acquired.
Kewl story, you're also cancer free without chemo (Score:2)
> An Ozempic Assleet.
> On a more serious note I use small bouts of fasting, like skipping a meal, which helps in keeping both under control. You also get mental clarity. This helped me avoid the diabetes my siblings acquired.
Happy for you, but fuck off. If it were that simple, we'd have a lot less fatties. It's easier to quit smoking/heroin/cocaine/opiates than to lose weight and keep it off. Biology is non deterministic. For me, to get above 6' tall, I just had to eat right...does that mean everyone shorter than me is a fuckup?
Look the narrative is fat people are fuckups who can't control themselves. I know it certainly makes most of /. feel better about themselves to shit on the fat. In fairness, I'll concede, a huge
Does that include Tacos? (Score:1)
I only ask because about 80% of the Ozempic used in the USA is made in...
Denmark.
Re: (Score:2)
TACO
I see what you did there.
This pairs with why people gain weight off it. (Score:2)
Someone said it “quiets food noise”, and that's a paraphrase, but, people on it do eat less, objectively. How much of that is because of the price? I don't know, it's not cheap, I know people who spend $700+ CAD / month on Ozempic, and if you take $700 out of the budget, goodbye eating out! People don't have extensive padding in their budgets, especially with inflation, and even if the price is $300, you got to cut somewhere.
Ignoring the cost aspect, if you're not hungry, and you don't have
I take Ozempic (Score:3)
I take Ozempic for diabetes. It costs me $5 a month with my coverage. It absolutely cratered my appetite.
Fast food was indeed one of the casualties from that. I can't even count on finishing a cheeseburger, one of the small ones, much less a double, big Mac, with fries and soda.
A couple slices of ham or turkey does it these days.
Re: (Score:2)
$5? That's insane, I don't know anyone paying that little, even with insurance. The cheapest I know of, from the people taking it, is just over $200 / month, and I really do know someone paying over $700 / month.
Smallest violin (Score:1)
Fast food industry created obesity epidemic by peddling ultra-processed addictive and unhealthy food and now that there is a treatment for food addiction they are complaining that it cuts into their profits? Semaglutide isn't good for you, but it is less bad than being morbidly obese and addicted to fast food.
Re: (Score:2)
"Semaglutide isn't good for you..."
Citations please.
"Fast food industry created obesity epidemic..."
It did not.
Ozympic is into the problem (Score:2)
I mean it might not be helping but the problem is $9 cheeseburgers don't fly. That dog don't hunt.
Fast food is low quality quick food that you buy when you're either in the mood for some shitty comfort food because you grew up with it or because you're too tired to cook for the kids.
As people had less and less kids fast food switched to targeting overworked young people who would get stuck doing an extra couple of shifts and by fast food because they were too exhausted after a 60 or 70 hour work wee
Stomach size decreases (Score:2)
Sometimes I could work on diet and my stomach would shrink. I couldn't eat as much. But I was always hungry and ate the same portions. My stomach size increased
With these meds, I no longer have the constant hunger. Before, couldn't really tell when I was full. Now I can hear the signal.
I'm changing habits, switching portion size tracking what I eat and keeping within a calorie budget. Its been a game changer. I hope I can continue it when I'm off.
Kraft to aquire Novo-Nordsk (Score:4, Funny)
Given market caps, it would totally be possible.
They could offer one-size-fits all subscription, each month you could choose how much Ozempic you wanted vs. plastic-wrapped sugar and salted potatoes.