It’s the blockbuster drug that has helped millions of people around the world achieve their weight loss goals.
But Ozempic has proven to be anything but a ‘miracle’ for the restaurant industry.
Over the past few months, some of the most in-demand establishments in the US and UK have noticed a worrying dip in profits as customers taking the ‘skinny jab’ refuse to order more than small plates while eating out.
Although it was first approved as a diabetes treatment in 2017, the drug is now widely being used for weight loss – as it mimics the the actions of GLP-1, a hormone in the brain that regulates appetite and feelings of satiety.
Earlier this year, a survey by Morgan Stanley found 63 per cent of people on Ozempic are ordering considerably less while dining out than they were before they being prescribed the drug.
Nima Safaei – the founder of 40 Dean Street and 64 Old Compton Street in London – said that his restaurants are currently grappling with the rise of Ozempic, which has been used by celebrities including Sharon Osbourne, Rebel Wilson and Tracy Morgan.
He told FEMAIL: ‘We’ve definitely noticed a shift in how people are dining with us. More customers are coming in just for drinks or ordering a couple of starters to share, and we’re seeing fewer three-course meals.
Restaurant owner Nima Safaei (pictured outside his London establishment 40 Dean Street) is now considering offering smaller sizes to avoid losing any potential customers who are on the weight loss drug
‘Sometimes we do wonder why people come in if they’re not particularly hungry, but we understand that it’s about the social experience and enjoying an evening with friends.’
As a result, Nima is now considering offering smaller sizes to avoid losing any potential customers who are on the weight loss drug.
He continued: ‘There’s definitely an idea to consider reducing portion sizes to accommodate these new dining trends, allowing everyone to enjoy a variety of flavours while still connecting over a meal.’
What’s more, Andrew Gray – who is the founder of Fables & Company – said that there ‘simply isn’t demand for larger dishes’ in their three wine bars, Plume, Finch and Quill.
The expert said: ‘Our guests increasingly prefer smaller portions.
‘Large dishes can be a bit antisocial and leave people feeling too full, which isn’t ideal for a night out.’
Andrew Gray – who is the founder of Fables & Company – said that there ‘simply isn’t demand for larger dishes’ in their London three wine bars, Plume, Finch (pictured) and Quill
However, the phenomenon isn’t strictly confined to the UK – with US-based establishments also revealing that they’ve had to adapt their approach to keep up the rise of Ozempic.
A talent agent who represents several household names previously told the MailOnline: ‘All the restaurants in Beverly Hills are now offering smaller portions because everyone is on Ozempic and can’t finish big steaks and bowls of pasta any more.
‘It’s not something they advertise because no one admits they are taking Ozempic, but everyone is on it so the restaurants are adapting and offering smaller dishes, half portions or dishes to share.
‘You’re seeing a lot of expensive things like caviar and oysters making a return to the menu. People can’t eat much because Ozempic makes them feel full faster, so if they are going to eat they want it to be a luxury experience.’
Ozempic and its sister drug Wegovy work by triggering the body to bind to a receptor called the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), a protein that triggers the release of hormones in the brain which keep the stomach full and tell the body to stop eating and avoid cravings
At Spago, known as the ‘restaurant to the stars’, in LA, chef Wolfgang Puck will ‘willingly reduce portion sizes on request’.
A source at the restaurant said: ‘Most people still come here for special occasions and want to enjoy our fabulous food, but if a customer requests a smaller portion of course we will accommodate that. We’re happy to offer smaller plates to anyone who asks.’
In New York, Nello – an Italian restaurant on the Upper East Side – introduced ‘tapas’ versions of their mains to encourage customers to venture beyond the starter section.
Before the eatery permanently shut in March 2024 due to unpaid rent, owner Thomas Makkos told the New York Post last year: ‘People have been leaving a lot of food at the table.’
Meanwhile, Sammy Musovic – owner of Sojourn and Sojourn Social in NYC – is now giving his clientele the option to remove sides from mains to no longer ‘overwhelm’ customers on Ozempic.
The restaurant owner explained: ‘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.’
Pictured: Nima Safaei – the founder of 40 Dean Street and 64 Old Compton Street in London – said that his restaurants are currently grappling with the rise of Ozempic
Stock photo of women enjoying a meal in a restaurant. Earlier this year, a survey by Morgan Stanley found 63 per cent of people on Ozempic are ordering considerably less while dining out than they were before they being prescribed the drug
On top of this, Ozempic users have also reported how alcohol consumption has left them feeling nauseous, which could also have an affect on restaurants’ profits.
In March, Stephen Fry appeared on the River Cafe Table 4 podcast – where he revealed the drug caused him to throw up multiple times a day and went off drinking.
He explained: ‘I tried Ozempic years ago; I’m an early adopter of these things. I happened to be in America, and I’d read about it, and I asked my doctor in America, my physician as they like to call them, and he said, “I think I can get you some.”
‘He tried me on it, and the first week or so, I was thinking, “This is astonishing. Not only do I not want to eat, I don’t want any alcohol of any kind. This is going to be brilliant.”
‘Then I started feeling sick, and I started getting sicker and sicker and sicker. I was literally throwing up four, five times a day and I thought, “I can’t do this.” So that’s it.’
Alison Edwards, Medical Director of Sesame, explained in a blog post: ‘Both alcohol and semaglutide can increase your risk for conditions like GI upset, low blood sugar and pancreatitis.
Pictured: Former X Factor judge Sharon Osbourne, who has previously revealed she was on Ozempic
Stephen Fry appeared on the River Cafe Table 4 podcast – where he revealed the drug caused him to throw up multiple times a day
‘While there hasn’t been any overt guidance from the [Food and Drug Administration] suggesting a problem with drinking while on Ozempic, it’s likely best to refrain from drinking in general while taking GLP-1 type medicines.’
Last October, Wall Street short-sellers began betting against restaurant stocks amid the rising popularity of Ozempic and its sister drug Wegovy.
At the time, industry insiders told Bloomberg investors were growing increasingly concerned about the ‘impact of appetite-suppressing drugs on restaurants’ sales’.
What’s more, former pharmacy worker Jack Roberts, 23, from Doncaster, revealed how difficult Ozempic has been to secure in the UK since its weight loss properties were revealed – and how diabetes sufferers are struggling to get their prescriptions.
He told FEMAIL: ‘It’s a complete lottery as to whether we could source it from suppliers or not.
‘It is an important medication for people who need it, so this usually meant my colleagues and I would have to ring patients’ doctors often to see if they could prescribe alternatives that we could order.
‘The fact that the discourse around Ozempic is now focused on weight loss rather than diabetes feels a little bit insulting.
‘My colleagues used to break their backs trying to source this diabetes medication and its use now as a weight-loss drug feels trivial by comparison.’
Rebecca Tobi, Senior business and investor engagement manager at the Food Foundation told FEMAIL: ‘Emerging research shows that people on GLP-1 drugs are spending less on food given the significant impact the drugs have in reducing appetite.
‘US research also suggests that the drugs might also impact on what people eat as well as how much, with people on GLP-1 drugs cutting back on confectionary, sugary drinks and baked goods by as much as two-thirds.
‘This could potentially represent a very significant impact on the food industry if the drugs are used at scale given that two thirds of people in Britain are currently living with overweight or obesity – although it’s important to remember that at the moment a much smaller proportion of the population are eligible for the drugs.
‘But whatever the eventual impact Ozempic and similar drugs might have on the restaurant sector, we already know that a lot of restaurant food can be unhealthy. For example, more than half of major UK high street restaurant chains have more than half their main dishes exceeding 50% of the Recommended Daily Intake for salt, with many meals also very high in calories.
‘So regardless of the possible impacts of Ozempic, we need to see restaurants working much harder to help people to access healthy options. Fairly small shifts in terms of reducing portion sizes and getting more plant rich options on menus can all make a big difference.’
It comes as medics have been told to crackdown on patients trying to secure groundbreaking Ozempic-like weight-loss jabs like for cosmetic reasons.
Wes Streeting and the medical regulator yesterday issued a joint alert amid growing concerns the ‘serious medication’ is being abused by people wanting to shed pounds for cosmetic reasons.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) reminded healthcare professionals to inform patients of the potential side-effects of the drugs
The health secretary said the injections should only be used by obese people who have failed to shift weight through diet and exercise not those looking to ‘get a body-beautiful picture for Instagram’.
They also need to be prescribed and used responsibly under medical supervision, he added.
Mr Streeting added the jabs are not a ‘quick fix to lose a few pounds’ and hit out at a trend of people buying the drugs online without an appropriate medical assessment, warning it can put people’s health at risk.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) also reminded healthcare professionals to inform patients of the potential side-effects of the drugs, which can include diarrhoea a well as rarely, reports of hair loss.
The MHRA added that medic must also report adverse reactions to officials using the MHRA’s Yellow Card scheme.
More than one in ten users will suffer gastrointestinal side-effects, such as vomiting and diarrhoea.
In most cases, these are not serious but may sometimes lead to severe dehydration, resulting in hospitalisation.
Mr Streeting, who has proposed giving the jabs to obese jobless people to get them back to work, said: ‘Weight-loss drugs have enormous potential.
‘When taken alongside healthy diet and exercise, they can be game changers in tackling obesity and getting people back to good health.
‘But these are not cosmetic drugs that should be taken to help get a body beautiful picture for Instagram.
‘These are serious medicines and should only be used responsibly and under medical supervision.
‘They’re not a quick fix to lose a few pounds and buying them online without appropriate assessment can put people’s health at risk.
‘Drugs approved for weight management should only be used by those tackling obesity, where diet and exercise has been tried first, and where patients are eligible.’
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