By reducing hunger, these treatments could lead some patients to rethink what they eat, not just how much. A change which raises an essential question: when the appetite becomes more discreet, how can we continue to provide our body with the nutrients it needs?
Fewer cravings, more fruits and vegetables: what the survey reveals
For some people, change isn’t just measured on the scale. It also plays out in everyday actions: less snacking between meals, fewer sugary drinks, more fruits and vegetables. This is what a survey carried out in the United Kingdom among people taking or having already taken a drug from the GLP-1 family suggests.
According to the results, 44% of people questioned affected by these treatments say they have changed the way they eat. Among them, 66% say they eat takeaway less often and 63% snack less between meals. Half also say they are less likely to drink carbonated or sugary drinks.
Conversely, 53% say they eat more fruits and vegetables. A proportion of 35% say they eat more nuts and seeds, and also drink more 100% pure fruit juice.
These developments do not only concern the foods consumed. Nearly half of respondents (46%) say they have become more selective in their food choices. A similar proportion say they have less desire for sweet products and confectionery. Finally, 43% explain that they have voluntarily sought to improve their diet.
These figures show an interesting trend: for some users, the treatment seems to be accompanied by a broader reflection on their diet. But they are based on statements and do not, on their own, establish that drugs are directly responsible for all these changes.
When hunger diminishes, the contents of the plate become essential
GLP-1 drugs act in particular on the mechanisms that participate in the regulation of appetite. When the feeling of hunger subsides, the quantities consumed may decrease. In this context, the nutritional quality of meals takes on particular importance: eating less does not necessarily mean providing fewer essential nutrients to your body.
This is one of the points raised by Dr. Carrie Ruxton, dietitian, who reminds us that the debate around these treatments should not be limited to weight loss.
“Discussions around GLP-1 drugs have largely focused on weight loss, but these results suggest their effects may go beyond the number shown on the scale. Many users appear to be changing not only the amounts they eat, but also the foods they choose, with less takeaways and snacking and a greater emphasis on fruits and vegetables.she explains.
She emphasizes a concrete issue: “When appetite decreases, it is particularly important to pay attention to the nutritional quality of what we eat and drink. Foods providing vitamins, minerals and other useful nutrients can help maintain a balanced diet despite reduced food intake..
In other words, the objective is not simply to eat less, but to continue to meet your needs despite sometimes being less hungry. A point of vigilance that deserves to be discussed with a health professional, especially when the reduction in appetite becomes significant.
Proteins, vitamins, minerals: how to maintain a balanced diet?
When portions decrease, certain food choices can help preserve diversity of intake. Dr. Carrie Ruxton recommends including nuts or seeds in breakfast cereals, and regularly eating fish, especially oily fish, which provide omega-3 fatty acids.
She also advises paying attention to calcium and iodine intake, to which dairy products can contribute, and keeping a place for eggs, which constitute a natural source of vitamin D.
Fruits and vegetables also remain important allies for diversifying vitamin and mineral intake. According to the dietician, a small glass of 100% pure fruit juice can also contribute to the intake of certain micronutrients as part of a balanced diet. Orange juice, for example, provides vitamin C, which promotes the absorption of plant-based iron when consumed during a meal.
These recommendations do not mean that any one food or drink can, on its own, compensate for an insufficient diet. Rather, they remind us of the benefit of varying nutrient sources, taking into account one’s needs and personal situation.
Beyond weight loss, a change to support
The British survey sheds light on the eating habits of people who have used GLP-1 drugs. But it does not demonstrate that all patients change their diet, nor that these changes are systematically lasting. It also does not allow each of the reported changes to be directly attributed to treatments.
Carried out by the Censuswide institute from July 3 to 8, 2026, it is based on responses from 2,250 adults in the United Kingdom, including at least 250 people currently taking a GLP-1 drug or having already taken one. Another element to keep in mind: the survey was commissioned in a context where the Fruit Juice Science Centre, which presents it, defends information based on scientific data concerning the place of 100% fruit juice in the diet.
For people under treatment, the challenge therefore remains individual: finding a sufficiently varied and adapted diet, even when hunger decreases. Advice from a doctor or nutrition professional can be valuable, especially if there is a marked loss of appetite or difficulty eating enough.
Because behind weight loss, there is also a question of daily health: how to support the effects of treatment without neglecting the body’s needs? The changes observed in this survey invite us to broaden our view of GLP-1, while remembering that a suitable diet is neither a list of foods nor a number on the scale.