YouGov’s new Health & Wellbeing Tracker reveals attitudes toward Weight Loss Drugs by their users, and how they change behaviour. Focussing on GLP-1 users, here are some headlines:
- 8% have used weight loss drugs (and 14% would consider using)
- 84% agree that exercise and dieting are still necessary to lose weight while taking the drugs (which implies 16% do not agree)
- 80% worry that they will regain weight if they stop taking the drug
Notable changes to diet among users include: Shift toward nutrient dense foods; Reductions in snack and convenience food; Drinking less alcohol and fewer fizzy drinks. Overall, the pattern indicates that users are scaling back on high-calorie convenience items while increasing consumption of healthier options.
Some of the changes in drug user spend across food categories persists after the treatment ends. This suggests that some behavioural changes can be maintained.