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Study Finds Anti-Obesity Drugs Linked to Increased Food Waste Among U.S. Adults

Recent research highlights a trend among U.S. adults taking anti-obesity medications, indicating that some individuals are disposing of more food than they did prior to starting these drugs.

A survey focusing on users of GLP-1 medications—such as Ozempic—revealed that 25% of respondents acknowledged an increase in food waste since beginning treatment. In contrast, 61% disagreed with this sentiment. Notably, those who experienced nausea as a side effect of the drugs were more inclined to report a rise in food waste. Conversely, results showed that individuals who adhered to the medication for extended periods and incorporated more vegetables into their diets reported less waste.

Researchers from The Ohio State University view this study as an initial foray into understanding how these popular anti-obesity drugs might influence food waste and production on both national and global scales.

“This pilot study aims to explore the implications of these medications, helping us understand which categories of food may be more or less favored after patients start treatment,” stated Brian Roe, a professor in the Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics at The Ohio State University.

Roe further noted, “The observable decrease in food waste as patients adjust to the medication suggests a straightforward approach: educating new users about potential food disposal as their dietary preferences evolve may help mitigate food waste and reduce their grocery expenses.”

This research has been published recently in the journal Nutrients.

According to estimates from the National Academies, approximately one-third of food produced in the U.S. goes to waste, with consumers alone discarding an average of one pound of food per person each day.

As of spring 2023, about 6% of U.S. adults reported using GLP-1 agonists, which manage type 2 diabetes and obesity by interacting with hormones in the small intestine that regulate blood sugar levels, delay stomach emptying, and promote feelings of fullness. In this study, nearly 70% of participants were on semaglutide (Ozempic, Rybelsus, Wegovy), while around 25% used terzepatide (Mounjaro).

The researchers gathered responses from 505 U.S. adults currently using anti-obesity medications through an extensive online questionnaire. This survey examined factors including sociodemographic data, individual characteristics, and modifications in eating behaviors, weight, and food waste associated with medication use. The analysis focused on a central question: “Since starting this medication, I have found I waste more of the food that I purchase.”

Participants varied in age, income levels, and educational backgrounds, with the majority holding insurance coverage. Notably, those on the medication for a year or longer reported less food waste compared to those who had just begun, approximately 30% of the respondents.

While nausea primarily drove increased food waste, findings also suggested that shifts in dietary preferences may lead to the disposal of foods that were no longer appealing. Overall, participants reported a shift toward consuming more vegetables, proteins, fish, and healthy fats while reducing alcohol, carbohydrates like pasta, fried foods, sweets, and dairy products.

“Interestingly, there was no significant shift in meat consumption—its intake remained neutral among users,” mentioned Roe.

The increased inclusion of vegetables—often the most commonly wasted food group in the U.S.—was associated with a lower likelihood of food waste, indicating an adaptation in dietary habits towards meals richer in vegetables.

Roe is preparing additional research that will focus on how these anti-obesity medications influence household budgets, particularly regarding pharmacy and food expenditures. With the rising prescription rates of GLP-1 agonists, there are important economic and environmental implications on both local and global scales.

“It’s likely that individuals using these medications may spend less on food, but whether this reduction can offset the cost of the medication itself remains uncertain,” he noted.

Other studies have modeled that a decrease in overall food consumption could lead to lower energy expenses, preservation of land and water resources, and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by preventing food from ending up in landfills. However, due to the recent emergence of these anti-obesity medications, there is still insufficient data to fully comprehend their broader societal implications.

“It’s evident that novel anti-obesity drugs could influence global public health, and evidence suggests that changes in food intake can have environmental ramifications,” Roe concluded. “There are numerous essential questions to consider as we evaluate the sustainability of our food systems alongside healthcare.”

First author Jamil Mansouri, who is studying agricultural economics at Purdue University, contributed to this project during a summer internship at Ohio State as part of the Big Ten Academic Alliance Summer Research Opportunities Program.

This research received support from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture and Ohio State’s Van Buren Fund, which sustains the professorship held by Roe in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.

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