Researchers at the Steno Diabetes Center in Copenhagen have revealed that starting to use glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) is associated with a slight improvement in food shopping habits.
The study showed that grocery purchases by GLP-1RA users in Denmark saw a significant decrease in calories and sugars, with a slight increase in protein content per 100 grams of food after starting treatment compared to before.
The use of GLP-1RA receptor agonists is typically associated with appetite suppression and reduced calorie intake, but their effect on daily food choices has been unclear in previous studies. Case reports and small studies have indicated a shift in dietary habits from highly processed, energy-dense snacks to whole or minimally processed foods after starting treatment, while large-scale purchase records have not clearly demonstrated these changes.
The researchers relied on supermarket billing records to assess any changes in food quality and processing level after treatment began.
The data came from the Danish SMIL cohort, which includes thousands of participants who recorded their purchases via a smartphone app. Researchers matched 293 patients who began GLP-1RA treatment with 884 individuals in a control group of similar age, sex, and income, with purchase records for at least one year before and after starting treatment.
The food was classified according to its level of processing using the NOVA system, ranging from unprocessed foods to ultra-processed foods. The analysis focused on the average energy and nutrient density per 100 grams, including sugar, carbohydrates, saturated fat, and protein.
The results showed that grocery purchases tended toward lower energy density, sugar, and carbohydrate intake after the introduction of GLP-1RA. Average energy density decreased from 209.4 to 207.3 kcal per 100g, sugar content fell from 15.7 to 15.1g, and total carbohydrates decreased from 19.8 to 19.3g per 100g. Saturated fat content also decreased slightly from 7.3 to 7.2g, while protein increased from 6.6 to 6.9g per 100g.
The proportion of unprocessed foods increased from 46.9% to 47.8%, while the proportion of ultra-processed foods decreased from 39.2% to 38%. No similar changes were observed in the control group.
The researchers point out that individual changes were minor, and that the noticeable shifts may partly reflect the beginning of a weight loss journey.
The study results were published in the jounal JAMA Network Open.
