With the increasing prevalence of weight-loss medications, their impact is no longer limited to shedding excess kilograms but has extended to noticeable changes in grocery shopping habits and food consumption patterns. According to Medical Express, researchers at the Steno Diabetes Center in Copenhagen found that the initiation of GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) is associated with slight improvements in grocery shopping habits. The study revealed that grocery purchases by GLP-1RA users in Denmark saw a notable reduction in calories and sugars, alongside a slight increase in protein content per 100 grams of food after starting treatment. The analysis focused on average energy density and nutrients per 100 grams. Results showed that average energy density decreased from 209.4 to 207.3 calories per 100 grams, sugar content dropped from 15.7 to 15.1 grams, and total carbohydrates fell from 19.8 to 19.3 grams per 100 grams. Saturated fat content decreased slightly from 7.3 to 7.2 grams, while protein increased from 6.6 to 6.9 grams per 100 grams. Furthermore, the proportion of unprocessed foods rose from 46.9% to 47.8%, while ultra-processed foods fell from 39.2% to 38%. Researchers matched 293 patients starting GLP-1RA therapy with 884 people in a control group of the same age, gender, and income. They note that while individual changes were slight, the shifts may partially reflect the start of a weight loss journey.
