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This is a lighter note blog, but when you start a GLP 1 treatment like semaglutide or tirzepatide, how you eat changes- what you crave and the amount you eat. So what does the data tell us? This was a study out of Cornell’s School of Business, where they analyzed food spending data on people who were on GLP medications, “The No-Hunger Games: How GLP-1 Medication Adoption is Changing Consumer Food Demand.” 
What did they find?
- Households with one member on GLP 1 medications had a drop in grocery spending by 5.5% within six months of starting the drug. In a higher income household? The spending drop was larger- 8.6%
- Not as much fast food and coffee shops. There was a 9% drop in spending here.
- Drop in calorie dense processed foods, like savory snacks.
- Fewer drinks with added sugar, sweets, alcohol.
- Increase in nutrient dense foods like fresh veggies, fruits, and yogurt.
- Increase in mints, gum, and tea (to help combat nausea? or help with the dry mouth and bad breath)
- This decrease may be temporary- there did seem to be a reversal and bounce back to premedication levels at about a year. They theorize it rebounds up again due to getting used to your dose and the initial motivation to follow a healthy diet may decline over time.
Why the changes?
It is unclear. Theories are
- The medications decrease cravings for foods high in fat and sugar, due to the GLP 1 receptor agonists on the brain appetite centers.
- GLPs decrease food noise, leading to less cravings
- The patients are making better life choices and listening to doctor recommendations about changing bad habits.
- Social media information about what to eat while on these treatments (They use the example of a TikTok which encourages higher fiber and protein diets)
Our thoughts at Biohackr Health?
We have a multipronged program to help you on the GLPs. Not only do we want to see the weight loss be better with semaglutide and tirzepatide, but we want to give you an off ramp to get off the treatments. By building up other areas, perhaps you won’t see the rebound buying at one year seen by many in this study.
- Love the focus on fiber. We crafted our probiotic particularly to help with fiber and glucose control, using specific bacterial strains to help with glucose control and help keep you regular. Our patients love it. SHOP
- Creatine to build muscle. GLPs can lose muscle mass preferentially- you need to combat that. Creatine is safe, super effective, and will help you get off the GLPs in the future. Our Biohackr Creatine is Creapure, micronized German creatine powder which is 99.9% pure. SHOP
- Are you prediabetic? Look at your HBA1c levels and consider a continuous glucose monitor to figure out what food is doing to your body. TESTING
- What is your hormone status? Hormones can help combat weight gain as well.