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High-cost GLP-1s cut grocery savings for most people in Britain, analysis says
Baringa estimates users need about £97,500 in discretionary spending after tax and essentials for grocery costs to drop by roughly £1,200 a year.
Guardian Business reports an analysis by the consultancy Baringa argues that the high price of GLP-1 weight-loss medication is effectively a regressive burden for most people in Britain, because drug costs outweigh any savings on food bills.
The analysis estimates that nearly 3 million people in Britain are on weight-loss medication, with most users buying the drugs privately with a prescription. It finds a typical GLP-1 user with £39,000 left over after tax and essentials would spend about £481 less per year on food.
Baringa says grocery spending is reduced by about £1,200 only once someone has around £97,500 left to spend after tax and other outgoings. The consultancy also notes that, beyond food, some users spend more on vitamin supplements and personal care products to manage side effects, making GLP-1s a “regressive tax on being thin.”
The report adds that Baringa’s partner Paddy Winters said there are early signs some people cancel prescriptions after a few months due to the costs, and that the pattern could involve starting, stopping, regaining weight, and returning to treatment, potentially funded by debt.