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Tue, 07 Jul 2026

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 From mouthwash to hair dye: How weight-loss jabs are changing shopping habits

The BBC looks at how spending habits have shifted as users report feeling less hungry.

* Households with at least one user of weight-loss medications (Mounjaro and Wegovy) spent £418 less on groceries in the year after starting their medication.
* This resulted in a fall of £780m in grocery spending nationally, according to market research company Worldpanel by Numerator.
* Users also cut back on buying certain items such as chocolate and pastries, but increased spending on others like fruit, protein-rich foods, and mouthwash (to combat bad breath).
* People taking weight-loss medications also consumed less alcohol, but bought more chewing gum and hair dyes to counter side effects like thinning hair.
* Cornell University research found that users cut back most on calorie-dense, processed foods, and spent 10% less on savoury snacks.
* The cost of the medications is a concern for some, with prescriptions costing over £300 a month and being the main reason people stop taking their medication.
* Nearly two-thirds of weight-loss jab users surveyed reported cutting out or trying to reduce meals out since starting their jabs.