Ozempic is changing the foods Americans buy • Hacker News Board

Re: Ozempic is changing the foods Americans buy

#51

Post by laurentiurad » Mon, Jan 12, 2026, 1:18 PM UTC

Foivos wrote: post #35

Raed667 wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

in europe there is a social stigma around GLP-1 drugs, a lot of people considered it cheating and lazy, so a lot of people don't dare talk about their usage

The social stigma in Europe exists, because these drugs are in limited supply. So, if a person who does not really need them is using them, the people who actually need them to stay alive might have difficulty accessing them.

you can just order them to your home on any of the websites selling GLP-1. Stop the propaganda inferring that the public healthcare is bad and doesn't allow people to get their medicine.

Re: Ozempic is changing the foods Americans buy

#52

Post by idiotsecant » Mon, Jan 12, 2026, 1:18 PM UTC

vintermann wrote: post #30

dizlexic wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

... do you have any evidence to back up this claim?

It's a prediction. Not a terribly unreasonable one as far as I can see. If a drug can move 5% of the ~trillion dollars spent on groceries in the US, there's a lot of money available for clawing those 5% back. Demanding evidence for predictions like this is a bit... hm. Arrogant, maybe. A prediction is a commitment. We want people to make predictions. The evidence we get when those predictions come true or not. Would…

Wanting evidence for random claims is arrogant? I'd say magical thinking is whats arrogant.

Re: Ozempic is changing the foods Americans buy

#53

Post by helsinkiandrew » Mon, Jan 12, 2026, 1:20 PM UTC

Yet they seem to be spending more in restaurants:

> Ozempic Users Actually Spend More Dining Out.

> ..In casual dining establishments, they spend 25% more than non-GLP-1 households do, the market researcher says. Data firm Numerator shares similar findings, noting that while GLP-1 users report eating out less and cooking at home more, their spending says otherwise: “Verified purchase data reveals that their fast-food buy rate is up 2%.”

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-02/ozempic-g... (archive: https://archive.ph/V6Erv)

Re: Ozempic is changing the foods Americans buy

#54

Post by Mashimo » Mon, Jan 12, 2026, 1:20 PM UTC

thunfischbrot wrote: post #39

seedless-sensat wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am not American, but I think you are unfairly dismissing the massive benefits GLP-1s have for people who struggle to maintain a healthy diet. It really feels like a miracle drug. > It's insane to me that so many people need these to get off the processed foods killing them in the US. Your comparison of your friends in Germany vs "insanity" in the US doesn't feel relevant

It does not read dismissive to me. They are surprised, yet not necessarily judging those who use it. There can be a discussion about the perverse incentives of systems without judging the individuals.

> not necessarily judging those who use it.

He implies that people who are using Ozempic are eating too much processed food. And more or less also that mostly Americans eat processed food?

Re: Ozempic is changing the foods Americans buy

#55

Post by layble » Mon, Jan 12, 2026, 1:21 PM UTC

francisofascii wrote: post #14

> a handful of categories showed increases. Yogurt rose the most, followed by fresh fruit, nutrition bars and meat snacks. Interesting. Wonder what it is about yogurt and ozempic users. Probiotics?

protein

Re: Ozempic is changing the foods Americans buy

#56

Post by Ensorceled » Mon, Jan 12, 2026, 1:22 PM UTC

seedless-sensat wrote: post #22

carlmr wrote: post #6

>The share of U.S. households reporting at least one user rose from about 11% in late 2023 to more than 16% by mid-2024. I was wondering how you could get such a high impact overall. But it seems one in 6 households are on GLP-1 drugs in the US. In my friend circle in Germany I don't even know one single person on this stuff. It's insane to me that so many people need these to get off the processed foods killing them…

I am not American, but I think you are unfairly dismissing the massive benefits GLP-1s have for people who struggle to maintain a healthy diet. It really feels like a miracle drug. > It's insane to me that so many people need these to get off the processed foods killing them in the US. Your comparison of your friends in Germany vs "insanity" in the US doesn't feel relevant

I think you are misreading the comment you are replying to:

> Your comparison of your friends in Germany vs "insanity" in the US doesn't feel relevant

It's incredibly relevant, why are GLP-1s less needed in Germany vs. US (and other countries like Canada)? This is the insanity they are talking about, not the users of the medication.

Re: Ozempic is changing the foods Americans buy

#57

Post by Mashimo » Mon, Jan 12, 2026, 1:22 PM UTC

Foivos wrote: post #35

Raed667 wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

in europe there is a social stigma around GLP-1 drugs, a lot of people considered it cheating and lazy, so a lot of people don't dare talk about their usage

The social stigma in Europe exists, because these drugs are in limited supply. So, if a person who does not really need them is using them, the people who actually need them to stay alive might have difficulty accessing them.

> because these drugs are in limited supply

That's the first time I hear about this. A close friend of mine uses it and she just goes to the pharmacy. Never heard about any problems with supply.

Re: Ozempic is changing the foods Americans buy

#58

Post by francisofascii » Mon, Jan 12, 2026, 1:22 PM UTC

otikik wrote: post #40

I think it’s not ozempic, it’s people not able to afford as much as before

Maybe? Although it sounds the study was able to differentiate between families where people were taking a GLP-1 vs families who were not.

Re: Ozempic is changing the foods Americans buy

#59

Post by nwienert » Mon, Jan 12, 2026, 1:24 PM UTC

spiderfarmer wrote: post #32

Drakim wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know about a full on conspiracy, but it's no secret that in the US they put a lot of additional sugar into products you wouldn't think had them.

I was in the US for 4 weeks as a tourist, the amount of additional time and effort it takes in the US to eat healthy is mind boggling.

Where did you visit? I don't think I've ever lived in a city where it wasn't trivially easy to find healthy food in abundance.

Re: Ozempic is changing the foods Americans buy

#60

Post by pjc50 » Mon, Jan 12, 2026, 1:24 PM UTC

fellowmartian wrote: post #19

dizlexic wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

... do you have any evidence to back up this claim?

it’s actually true and they’re trying to develop GLP-1 resistant foods by using other sensory channels: https://archive.is/N0whF

This should be viewed like attempts to put the cocaine back in coca-cola. The industry may be able to get away with "our food is naturally delicious", but engineering it for superior addictiveness should be banned. Not going to get there under the current FDA, though.