GLP‑1s shifting shopping habits

Retailers are redrawing shelves and size runs as more Americans take GLP-1 drugs and buy less food but more replacement clothing. (finance.yahoo.com) Yahoo Finance reported on April 22 that households using GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro are cutting grocery spending by 5% to 11%. It said chips and salty snacks were down about 11%, while sweet baked goods were down around 7%. (finance.yahoo.com) A Cornell study published Dec. 18 in the *Journal of Marketing Research* found grocery spending falls 5.3% within six months of starting a GLP-1 drug, and spending at fast-food restaurants, coffee shops and other limited-service eateries falls about 8%. The researchers used Numerator transaction data from about 150,000 U.S. households matched to repeated surveys on GLP-1 use. (news.cornell.edu) GLP-1 drugs were first used for diabetes, but they are now widely prescribed for weight loss because they slow stomach emptying and increase feelings of fullness. Morgan Stanley said prescriptions grew about 40% year over year in 2025, and it projected $43 billion in combined 2031 revenue for Zepbound and Wegovy. (morganstanley.com) That shift is moving from pharmacies into store planning. Yahoo Finance said retailers are adding smaller portion sizes and more fresh, nutrient-rich foods, while warning that a heavier mix of perishables could lift stockouts by 4% to 6% and food waste by 11% to 15% if systems do not adjust. (finance.yahoo.com) The apparel side is moving in the opposite direction on volume: more closet refreshes, faster size changes. CNBC reported on April 9 that Bernstein sees up to a $13 billion annual boost in apparel spending from GLP-1 users buying new clothes, with retailers such as T.J. Maxx, Walmart, Target, Stitch Fix and Rent the Runway positioned to benefit. (cnbc.com) Retail planners are also being warned not to overcorrect. Retail Dive reported on April 15 that Circana found nearly 23% of U.S. households now have someone using a GLP-1 drug annually, and consultant Liza Amlani said some brands are already planning to cut extended sizing too aggressively. (retaildive.com) Circana’s November 2025 research said new patient prescriptions rose by 2.9 million from September 2024 to September 2025, a 16% increase, and projected that households with GLP-1 users will represent 35% of all food and beverage units sold by 2030. That leaves merchants with a basic retail problem in new form: the same customer is eating less, shopping differently and changing sizes faster. (circana.com)