New data from Worldpanel by Numerator has revealed the impact of weight loss drugs on UK shopping baskets.
The research reveals that the number of British households with a GLP-1 (the broad term for weight loss drugs) user has nearly tripled in just two years, with 1.9m adults now currently on the medication in 2026.
Worldpanel also reports that 6.3% of households in Great Britain now include at least one current user, rising sharply from 4.1% in 2025 and 2.3% in 2024.
The findings draw on responses from more than 11,500 household, and mark the third year Worldpanel has studied Britain’s relationship with these types of drugs.
The impact on grocery spending is significant, with the latest research revealing that users are spending and buying less. Grocery spend by user households has declined by £780m, the survey showed. This equates to a £418 decline in household spend when compared to non-user households.
Over half of users (54%) report experiencing fewer cravings, with one in ten (11%) no longer enjoying their usual favourites. While users say they are cutting back - 75% on chocolate and 72% on crisps - shopping habits tell the same story. Since starting GLP-1 treatments, chocolate confectionery spend among users has fallen 18% more than in non-user households.
However, ‘Ozempic mouth’ - a side effect of a dry mouth and bad breath - is driving a 20% uplift in mouthwash spend and a 24% uplift in chewing gum spend among GLP-1 user households when compared to those not using them.
Chantel Kennaugh, head of public sector and nutrition GB for Worldpanel by Numerator, said: “What was once a specialised treatment, primarily prescribed for type 2 diabetes, has in just a few short years become a mainstream force. Now, 68% of users are taking GLP-1s specifically to lose weight, opening them up to a much wider audience.
“These drugs are fundamentally disrupting how people engage with food and drink, with ripple effects already being felt across grocery and lifestyle, forcing brands and businesses to adapt at pace.”
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