According to new Gallup data, America’s obesity rate has finally declined — from nearly 40% in 2022 to 37% in 2025. That’s roughly 7.6 million fewer adults living with obesity.
For the first time in a decade, the needle is moving in the right direction. But before we celebrate, we need to ask why.
It isn’t because Americans are eating better or exercising more.
It’s because over 12% of U.S. adults are now using GLP-1 weight-loss medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound — double the rate from just last year.
These drugs work, but they come at a cost — literally and physiologically.
GLP-1s Work — But They’re Not a Cure
Let’s give credit where it’s due. GLP-1s have helped millions achieve meaningful weight loss, lower blood sugar, and regain control of their health. For many, they’re a breakthrough tool in managing obesity and diabetes.
But the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition’s 2025 joint advisory — led by experts from Tufts, the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, and the Obesity Society — lays out the real challenge:
“GLP-1 therapy is most effective when paired with comprehensive nutrition and lifestyle support that sustains muscle mass, prevents micronutrient deficiencies, and builds long-term behavior change.”
(Mozaffarian et al., AJCN, 2025)
That’s the missing piece. When you eat less — as GLP-1s are designed to help you do — you also risk eating fewer essential nutrients. The research highlights potential shortfalls in calcium, iron, zinc, and vitamins A, D, E, and B12. Rapid weight loss can also strip away lean muscle and bone density.
And that’s before considering the cost: up to $16,000 per person per year. Once the shots stop, the weight often returns — sometimes within months.
These aren’t reasons to avoid the medications. They’re reasons to build better systems around them.
Food as Medicine: The Off-Ramp to Sustainable Health
The AJCN study and its policy recommendations are clear — GLP-1s should not stand alone. Health systems and insurers should require concurrent nutrition support, ideally through Food-as-Medicine programs that provide medically tailored meals, nutrition counseling, and lifestyle education.
This combination approach helps patients maintain weight loss, protect muscle, and safely reduce or discontinue medication over time.
In plain terms: GLP-1s can start the journey, but real food has to finish it.
The PLANTSTRONG Sidecar
At PLANTSTRONG, we see Food as Medicine every single day. Our Meal Plan Bundle was built to be the perfect sidecar for people using or tapering off GLP-1 medications.
It’s:
✅ Nutrient-dense and protein-rich to help preserve muscle.
✅ Free of oils, refined sugar, and ultra-processed ingredients.
✅ Shelf-stable and designed to pair with fresh produce.
✅ HSA/FSA-eligible through Truemed — because eating healthy is healthcare.
This isn’t a diet. It’s a safety net for long-term success — helping people sustain the gains from medication while rediscovering their relationship with food.
A Call to Providers and Patients
If you’re a clinician, your patients need more than a prescription — they need a plan.
If you’re on a GLP-1, your body needs more than calorie reduction — it needs nourishment.
Work with your healthcare provider to integrate nutrient-dense, whole-food meals that stabilize energy, support muscle, and protect your long-term health.
The medication may start the fire, but real food keeps it burning.
A Call to Employers and Health Systems
If your organization is investing in GLP-1 medications, make sure that investment lasts. Our 12-week PLANTSTRONG by Metabite Program combines real food, live coaching, and digital behavior change to help employees transition from medication dependence to long-term metabolic health.
Pair the power of medicine with the permanence of lifestyle.
👉 Learn more about our corporate wellness and Food-as-Medicine programs at liveplantstrong.com/corporate-wellness
Real Food. Real Results.
We’re standing at a crossroads in healthcare. GLP-1s have given us momentum — now it’s time to make it sustainable.
Let’s use this moment not just to get smaller, but to get stronger.
👉 Explore the PLANTSTRONG Meal Plan Bundle — the smarter sidecar to any GLP-1 journey.
Learn more at plantstrong.com →
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