'Why not buy filet mignon': This Chicago lawyer's success with Ozempic shows how weight-loss drugs could unlock Americans' purchasing power — and transform the economy

This change not only transformed his appearance but also reshaped his entire lifestyle. From his eating habits and wardrobe to his vacation choices, Drews has reinvented his daily routine, now spending more than $100,000 annually to support his new way of living.

“It’s a whole new life,” Drews told the Washington Post.

According to survey data from the Kaiser Family Foundation, 1 in 8 U.S. adults have used GLP-1 drugs, and more than 15 million people across the country are using them. GLP-1 agonists are a class of drugs that mimic hormones which signal fullness, helping to curb overeating.

But beyond weight loss, there is a less obvious side effect — unlocking Americans’ purchasing power. Evidence shows that those using Ozempic can overlap with what a group of analysts call “over consumers," a demographic known for high-spending habits.

By cutting daily calorie counts by 50% or more, these individuals are not only reshaping their bodies but also fueling increased spending.

The Ozempic diet

Drews’ financial game got as much of a workout as his body did. Instead of splurging on fast-food, he shifted his budget to invest in himself — a personal trainer at $140 an hour, twice a week, tallying up to roughly $3,000 a month on fitness.

As his eating habits became more deliberate, Drews traded drive-thru meals for whole foods like eggs, fresh fruit, salmon and nuts. In marketing terms, he’s now a “premium purchaser,” reallocating his spending from quantity to quality.

As KPMG consumer and retail strategy analyst Andrew Lindsay put it in a recent report about GLP-1, according to the Post article, “Why not buy filet mignon when you only have the appetite for a few ounces of steak?”

Drews isn’t alone. A study from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business reveals that households with a diet pill user are also among the top 10% of those buying unhealthy foods. Yet, as these drugs foster healthier habits, companies reliant on impulse indulgences face risk.

But, while spending on junk is cooling off, consumers are reallocating funds elsewhere.