How fat jabs are having an impact on Scots' shopping baskets as well as their waistlines

Published: 19:33, 10 August 2026 | Updated: 19:33, 10 August 2026 Scots who have turned to fat jabs to lose weight are shunning sweet treats and alcohol as they switch to healthier options, new research has revealed. Those on GLP-1s including Ozempic, Wegovy or Mounjaro are cutting calorific items such as cakes and confectionery from their diet. Instead they are turning to better alternatives such as fruit and vegetables, according to the study from marketing experts, The Knowledge Bank. And as the pounds are lost many spend more on clothing to buy a new wardrobe for their slimmed-down figures. Nearly nine in 10 Scots say they know about the fat-busting drugs, with some six per cent of those north of the Border currently on GLP-1s, the research shows. Another eight per cent are thinking of using weight loss injections or tablets while five per cent of those surveyed have used them in the past. While GLP-1s suppress appetites, they do not automatically mean those on them switch to healthier alternatives. But among Scots who have experience of the medications is that snacks become the biggest casualties as appetites are suppressed. Fruit and vegetables were among foods that Scots reported spending more money on Researchers say that rather than creating entirely new behaviours, the drugs may be accelerating some existing trends. Carol Saunders, head of insights at The Knowledge Bank, said: ‘The impact of GLP-1 medications is still emerging, but the early signs suggest that this is more than a conversation about weight loss. ‘For food and drink businesses, the important question is how these medications may influence what people want to buy, how much they consume and where they choose to spend their money. ‘The clearest shifts in Scotland are towards products such as vegetables, soft fruit, chicken, eggs and yoghurt, alongside reduced spending on products including cakes, biscuits, confectionery and snacks.’ The Knowledge Bank, which is part of the Scotland Food and Drink, made the findings as part of a seven-month study among a representative sample of Scottish residents. It found that 77 per cent of those on the GLP-1s reported spending less on cakes and biscuits, while 82 per cent said they were spending less on sweets and chocolate. Prepared food and ready meals, ice creams and snacks also saw reduced reported spending, at 68, 71 and 74 per cent respectively. Alcohol sales were also declining, they found, and sales of no- and low-alcohol beverages were on the rise. Meanwhile vegetable sales soared by 63 per cent, soft fruit by 50, chicken and other poultry 41, eggs 45, and yogurt 41 per cent. They were all among the products seeing the biggest increases in reported spending. Many Scots in the new study reported spending less on snacks, cakes and alcohol And some 59 per cent said they were eating out less, while 47 per cent reported spending more on clothing. Ms Saunders said: ‘While the findings do not mean every consumer taking a GLP-1 medication will behave in the same way, for a Scottish sector worth £19billion and supporting more than 120,000 jobs, understanding how consumer behaviour is evolving will be increasingly important for producers and retailers. ‘The early evidence suggests that new health trends may be changing demand for Scottish consumers.’ Fieldwork for the study was carried out in early December 2025, with additional surveys in June this year. Some 753 interviews were completed in the first wave, with 754 in the second.