Walmart has revealed that shoppers are buying less food thanks to increasing the increasing popularity of ‘miracle’ drugs like Ozempic – while restaurants are also whittling down portion sizes. 

The weight loss wonder jab has proven a hit among the wealthy, with healthcare providers in the US writing more than nine million prescriptions for appetite suppression medications during the last three months of 2022. 

This figure is likely to have ballooned since, as appetite for drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy grew this year. Recent analysis suggests as many as 15% of Americans – around 150 million people – have now tried the drugs. 

Amid this rocketing trend, which shows no sign of stopping, retailers have already noticed a marked impact on grocery hauls and restaurant orders. 

New York socialite Libbie Mugrabi, 43, who is taking Ozempic along with many of her friends, said their restaurant orders have become much more conservative. 

New York socialite Libbie Mugrabi , 43, who is taking Ozempic along with many of her friends, said their restaurant orders have become much more conservative thanks to the drug

New York socialite Libbie Mugrabi , 43, who is taking Ozempic along with many of her friends, said their restaurant orders have become much more conservative thanks to the drug

Sammy Muscovic, who owns Sojourn and Sojourn Social in the neighborhood said the branches have begun serving smaller versions of flagship meals, including burgers without fries and three spring rolls for $8 instead of the standard $12 for five

Sammy Muscovic, who owns Sojourn and Sojourn Social in the neighborhood said the branches have begun serving smaller versions of flagship meals, including burgers without fries and three spring rolls for $8 instead of the standard $12 for five

High-end restauranteurs are also feeling the pinch from the changing habits of their ever-slimmer clientele. 'People have been leaving a lot of food at the table,' according to Thomas Makkos, the owner of Nello on Madison Avenue, New York

High-end restauranteurs are also feeling the pinch from the changing habits of their ever-slimmer clientele. ‘People have been leaving a lot of food at the table,’ according to Thomas Makkos, the owner of Nello on Madison Avenue, New York

The ex wife of billionaire art collector David Mugrabi said a recent trip to the chic new Caviar Kaspia on New York City’s Upper East Side saw her table of six order very little. 

Mugrabi revealed they ordered only scrambled eggs with salmon, a crab salad and a $540 baked potato filled with osetra – one of the most expensive types of caviar – and they didn’t even finish their meals. 

Referring to the Ozempic jab, she told the New York Post: ‘I can’t even eat all the caviar, but that’s the point of the shot!’

Known as the ‘skinny jab’, Ozempic is the brand name for the diabetes drug semaglutide, which is taken as a weekly injection and has reportedly helped stars such as Kim Kardashian and actress Christina Hendricks rapidly shed the pounds. 

High-end restauranteurs are also feeling the pinch from the changing habits of their ever-slimmer clientele. 

‘People have been leaving a lot of food at the table,’ Thomas Makkos, the owner of Nello on Madison Avenue, New York, told the Post. 

Makkos revealed that the restaurant is now offering ‘tapas’ size portions, and smaller versions of popular meals like the Gnocchi Mona Lisa. The standard version of this meal costs $51, while a newly-created more modest version costs $39.   

Known as the 'skinny jab', Ozempic is the brand name for the diabetes drug semaglutide, which is taken as a weekly injection and has reportedly helped stars such as Kim Kardashian and actress Christina Hendricks rapidly shed the pounds

Known as the ‘skinny jab’, Ozempic is the brand name for the diabetes drug semaglutide, which is taken as a weekly injection and has reportedly helped stars such as Kim Kardashian and actress Christina Hendricks rapidly shed the pounds

Kim Kardashian is said to be on the miracle weight loss drug Ozempic

Kim Kardashian is said to be on the miracle weight loss drug Ozempic 

For Walmart, Ozempic is a double-edged sword, because as they profit from its sales in their pharmacies, they're seeing consumers spend less on food in store

For Walmart, Ozempic is a double-edged sword, because as they profit from its sales in their pharmacies, they’re seeing consumers spend less on food in store

Several more Upper East Side restaurants are evolving in a similar way. 

Sammy Muscovic, who owns Sojourn and Sojourn Social in the neighborhood said the branches have begun serving smaller versions of flagship meals, including burgers without fries and three spring rolls for $8 instead of $12 for five. 

‘Customers have been saying that the food was amazing but they feel full — we don’t want them to be overwhelmed if they aren’t hungry,’ Muscovic told the Post. 

David Tornek, CEO and founder of Meat Market, said he’s had to ‘double inventory in all locations’ to satisfy the Ozempic-fueled demand for smaller meals. 

The Florida-based steak house now serves increasing numbers of 6-ounce petite filet mignons, with fewer orders for the 12-ounce version.  

For Walmart, Ozempic is a double-edged sword, because as they profit from its sales in their pharmacies, they’re seeing consumers spend less on food in store. 

John Furner, CEO of the grocery giant, said shoppers are purchasing ‘fewer units’ while opting for foods with ‘slightly less calories’.  

WEIGHT LOSS: Christina Hendricks posted a picture of her new figure after Ozempic

WEIGHT LOSS: Christina Hendricks posted a picture of her new figure after Ozempic

Billionaire Elon Musk, who owns Twitter, admitted that taking the drug helped him shed 30lb

Billionaire Elon Musk, who owns Twitter, admitted that taking the drug helped him shed 30lb

‘We definitely do see a slight change compared to the total population, we do see a slight pullback in overall basket,’ Furner told Bloomberg. 

The retailer is analyzing changes in consumer habits using anonymized data among people taking the weight loss drug made by Novo Nordisk A/S and similar products. 

Furner said it’s too soon to come to a definite conclusion about the impact of the diabetes drugs, but he is noticing a pattern. 

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Post source: Daily mail