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1 Medications Are Changing the Way Americans Shop
A new study shows that consumers taking medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy are spending more on apparel and holding onto clothes for future weight loss
Jul 22, 2026
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A new study suggests that GLP-1 medications are doing more than changing Americans’ health. They’re also reshaping how consumers shop for, return, and hold onto clothing
ReturnPro, a post-purchase services company that helps retailers manage returns and reverse logistics, surveyed 500 U.S. adults currently taking or who have taken a GLP-1 medication within the previous 12 months. The report examined how drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound are influencing apparel spending, sizing decisions and return behavior
“GLP-1 drugs are reshaping body sizes for millions of shoppers faster than most retail systems were built to handle,” ReturnPro CEO Sender Shamiss said in a statement. “Retailers who adapt their sizing, returns and exchange processes now will be in a much stronger position than those who wait it out.”
More than a weight-loss tool
One possible explanation for the connection between GLP-1 use and changing shopping habits is the medications’ potential influence on mood, motivation and reward-seeking behavior
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Eli Kraiem, a professor at Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, told Inc. that GLP-1 medications act not only on the digestive system but may also affect brain regions involved in reward, motivation and self-regulation
“When food is no longer occupying so much mental space, purchasing behaviors may change,” Kraiem said. “Some individuals may redirect spending to other areas such as fitness, clothing and wellness products, especially as they experience weight loss and a renewed sense of confidence.”
For some users, Kraiem added, the shift may extend beyond spending and reflect a broader change in priorities
