The GLP-1 Effect on Consumer, Market and Popular Culture

There’s a lot of talk at the moment about GLP-1 and I have been deeply engaged to better understand what these letters stand for and why the hype. After digging deeper into the topic I have pulled together a series of posts highlighting what exactly it is, why you will hear more about it and the impact it is having on both the people that are using these drugs like #Ozembic, #Wegovy, #Zepbound and the enormous impact this class of drugs will have on the food, beverage and healthcare industry.

Not only is this miracle drug impacting the healthcare market but it’s also reshaping how we look at and talk about weight loss. It is reshaping the whole concept of dieting in the US and teetering on the miracle diet we have been chasing. Our evolution from cutting calories to counting calories to counting on the “right” kinds of calories is changing the spending patterns and impacting consumer behaviors like never before in history.

As my goal is to always answer the question of “What’s Next”, I found that GLP-1 is answering this call by itself. It helps consumers lose weight, manage diabetes, decrease inflammation, reduce addictive impulses and many other off-label remedies are being discovered daily. One simple shot and all your worries are gone, right?

Well, not exactly. Unfortunately, in this world of instant gratification, it’s not quite that simple. However hard it is, the success that people are seeing on this drug is astonishing. In the STEP 1 trial, people taking semaglutide 2.4 mg (Wegovy) lost an average of 14.9% of their body weight in 68 weeks vs. 2.4% in placebo (NEJM, 2021).

This level of weight loss is comparable to bariatric surgery for some patients and was unprecedented for drug therapy until this trial was conducted, thus saving countless hours of suffering and without the expense of such an invasive surgery. With these amazing results it helps to know what exactly a semaglutide is and why it works so well. In the next couple of posts, I will look to answer this and more.

Let’s start with the answering what exactly is GLP-1?

GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) is a hormone that plays a key role in blood sugar regulation, satiety (feeling full), and insulin secretion. Certain foods and dietary patterns can naturally stimulate the body’s own production and release of GLP-1.

Why is GLP-1 so important to our overall health and our bottom line?

GLP-1 is more than just a hormone—it’s a master regulator of metabolism. These GLP‑1 receptor agonists represent a transformational tool in our healthcare toolbox by addressing obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, kidney failure, cognitive decline and other chronic conditions. With demonstrated efficacy, multi-system benefits, and long-term economic potential, these wonder drugs provide a huge leap forward in managing many chronic diseases that have grown significantly over the past fifty years.

That’s why enhancing GLP-1 production, either through GLP-1 agonists or through lifestyle (diet, exercise, sleep) has become a game-changing tool for improving public health and helping cut costs through prevention and not relying on expensive surgeries after the damage has been done.

Here are some key areas that are dramatically impacted with GLP-1 enhancement:

🩸 1. Blood Sugar Regulation

GLP-1 helps the body manage blood sugar by:

⁃    Stimulating insulin secretion (which lowers blood sugar)

⁃    Suppressing glucagon release (which prevents unnecessary sugar production by liver)

⁃    Slowing gastric emptying, which flattens post-meal blood sugar spikes

🍽️ 2. Appetite and Weight Control

GLP-1 signals the brain to reduce hunger and increase feelings of fullness and satiety:

⁃    Help with calorie reduction and promote sustainable weight loss

⁃    Can lead to significant loss of muscle mass and bone health.

Fact: Clinical studies show people on GLP-1 receptor agonists often lose 15–20% of their body weight, which reduces the risk of obesity-related conditions.

🫀 3. Heart and Cardiovascular Health

GLP-1 may protect the heart in many ways by:

⁃    Reducing inflammation

⁃    Lowering blood pressure and LDL cholesterol

⁃    Improving vascular function

Fact: GLP‑1 agonists cut major adverse cardiovascular events by ~20% and reduce heart failure hospitalizations by ~9% (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10028372/)

🧠 4. Brain and Cognitive Function

Emerging research suggests GLP-1 may:

⁃    Improve cognitive function

⁃    Protect against neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s

⁃    Regulate dopamine pathways, potentially affecting mood and addiction behaviors

Fact: GLP-1 receptors exist in brain areas involved in reward, memory, learning and emerging data shows benefits for Alzheimer’s, Dementia and broader cognitive health, though more research is ongoing. (https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(24)00268-2/fulltext)

💪 5. Metabolic Health & Longevity

Because GLP-1 improves insulin sensitivity, reduces fat accumulation, and encourages healthier eating patterns, it:

⁃    Supports metabolic flexibility

⁃    Reduces risk of NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease)

⁃    May improve markers of biological aging and inflammation

Fact: GLP‑1s regulate blood pressure, lipids, inflammation, and may slow progression of fatty liver, sleep apnea, and kidney disease—even independent of weight loss (https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/nla-2025-glp-1-therapies-may-impact-cardiovascular-and-renal-health-independent-of-weight-loss)

Finally, if you wonder what type of foods and food stuffs can help increase natural GLP-1 secretion, there are many fast, easy and affordable ways to increase your intake as a part of your daily regimen.

Here’s a list of natural GLP-1 sources (and not all are bad, there is wine and chocolate on the list). 🙂

1. Fermented and High-Fiber Foods (Promote Short-Chain Fatty Acids)

Dietary fibers that are fermented in the gut by bacteria produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) like butyrate and propionate, which have been shown to increase GLP-1.

⁃    Oats

⁃    Barley

⁃    Beans, legumes, lentils

⁃    Chicory root, Jerusalem artichokes (high in inulin)

⁃    Fermented foods (e.g., sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir — promote a healthy microbiome that supports SCFA production)

2. Healthy Fats

Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats can stimulate GLP-1 secretion.

⁃    Olive oil

⁃    Avocados

⁃    Nuts (especially almonds and walnuts)

⁃    Fatty fish (salmon, sardines, mackerel)

3. Protein-Rich Foods

Certain amino acids increase GLP-1 secretion, especially when consumed as part of a high-protein meal.

⁃    Eggs

⁃    Greek yogurt

⁃    Lean meats (chicken, turkey)

⁃    Plant-based proteins (tofu, tempeh, edamame

4. Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3s have been shown to support GLP-1 levels through anti-inflammatory effects.

⁃    Fatty fish

⁃    Flaxseeds

⁃    Chia seeds

⁃    Walnuts

5. Polyphenol-Rich Foods

Polyphenols are plant compounds that may influence GLP-1 secretion through gut microbiota interaction and signaling pathways.

⁃    Berries (blueberries, blackberries, raspberries)

⁃    Dark chocolate (70% cocoa or more)

⁃    Green tea

⁃    Red wine (in moderation)

⁃    Turmeric (contains curcumin)

6. Resistant Starches

Resistant starches act similarly to fiber, promoting SCFA production and GLP-1 stimulation.

⁃    Cooked and cooled potatoes or rice

⁃    Green bananas

⁃    Whole grains

⁃    Legumes

7. Capsaicin (in chili peppers)

Spicy foods may enhance GLP-1 release by stimulating gut receptors, bit be careful not to be too hot and also irritating your gut biome.

⁃    Chili peppers

⁃    Hot sauces (with natural capsaicin)

Here are a few easy tips to Maximize GLP-1 Naturally:

1.    Eat balanced meals with protein, fiber, and healthy fats.

2.    Avoid highly processed foods and sugars that can impair gut health.

3.    Exercise regularly — physical activity can also promote GLP-1 production.

So, if you are still not convinced look at the numbers alone.

Over one-third of American adults are obese, and nearly 38 million live with type 2 diabetes. In a February 2025 article from Harvard, they indicate the enormous potential cost savings of this drug if put into everyday use to curb the obesity epidemic that is costing more than $1 trillion a year in the U.S. due to increased healthcare costs and loss of productivity.

With sales ~$30B in 2024 and estimated to grow anywhere from $60B to $156B by 2030 across multiple sources, this is a huge market. It will see significant double-digit financial growth over the next five to ten years and its impact on our food and beverage system will be game-changing.  We will dig deeper at a later time on the impact that GLP-1 will have on the food industry but be ready because it is already here.

To put it simply, this is a big deal. It has and will continue to have a huge impact on the consumer, political, and social environments and will drive enormous changes in how we approach food, what it tastes like and how we interact with it. It will change our relationship with food, it will impact our traditions with food and alter how we eat and drink on a daily basis. If you do not have a current GLP-1 strategy you are already behind the eight ball.

In the next blog I will dig deeper into the impact this will have as these drugs become more available through insurance plans, more affordable through production increases and easier to deliver by oral applications.

Stay tuned for what’s next…