Lindt Study Reveals Weight-Loss Drug Users Are Increasing Chocolate Consumption
Swiss chocolatier Lindt & Spruengli has disclosed that chocolate sales are experiencing an unexpected surge among users of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs in the United States, with this group outpacing the general population. This finding directly contradicts prior expectations that these medications would reduce demand for confectionery products.
Internal Data Shows Significant Market Impact
An internal study by Lindt, utilizing February data from market researcher Circana, indicates that 15 per cent of US households currently use GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro. Remarkably, these households account for a substantial 17.5 per cent of all chocolate sales in the country.
Furthermore, the company reported that premium chocolate sales among GLP-1 users in the US increased by nearly 17 per cent in 2025. This growth significantly exceeds the 6.5 per cent rise observed among non-GLP-1 users during the same period.
Analyst Predictions Challenged by Real-World Trends
Analysts at Berenberg had previously anticipated that the introduction of oral GLP-1 weight-loss drugs would negatively impact the food industry, particularly the confectionery sector, over the coming years. They projected a sales volume drag of 0.9 percentage points for Lindt specifically in 2027.
However, the latest data suggests these forecasts may need revision as consumer behavior defies initial assumptions. The oral versions of GLP-1 drugs are expected to expand usage to a broader patient base, including more men and younger individuals, as they are projected to offer less drastic weight loss compared to injectable counterparts.
Broader Implications for Addiction and Health
Recent research has revealed additional benefits of GLP-1 medications beyond weight management. A large study of U.S. military veterans found that drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro can prevent new substance use disorders and alleviate existing addictions.
The protective effect was observed across a wide range of addictive substances, including cocaine, opioids, alcohol, nicotine, and cannabis. This adds substantial evidence to a phenomenon previously noted in smaller studies.
Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly of the VA Saint Louis Health Care System in Missouri, who led the study published in The BMJ, expressed surprise at the breadth of this effect. He noted that in addiction medicine, there is typically no single drug that works across all these substances.
The research team utilized a U.S. Veterans Affairs database to compare patients with type 2 diabetes treated with GLP-1 drugs against those using SGLT-2 inhibitors. Among 124,001 participants without a history of substance abuse taking GLP-1 medications, there was a 14% lower odds of developing a new substance use disorder over three years compared to 400,816 similar patients prescribed SGLT-2 inhibitors.
It is important to note that most study participants were not taking the higher-dose GLP-1 drugs specifically formulated for obesity treatment, indicating potential broader applications for these medications.
