For the first time in decades, there is good news on obesity in America. According to the latest Gallup National Health and Well-Being Index, the obesity rate for U.S. adults declined this year to 37% from a peak of 39.9% in 2022. That’s 7.6 million fewer obese adults.
That could mean a very different Thanksgiving feast for many households, as the main reason cited for the decline is the explosive popularity of GLP-1 weight loss and diabetes drugs like Ozempic, Zepbound, Wegovy, and Mounjaro. The Gallup survey found that more than 12% of adults reported using a GLP-1 drug in the second and third quarters of 2025, compared with less than 6% in early 2024.
These drugs work by suppressing hormones that drive hunger signals to the brain and by slowing the digestion of food, causing the user to eat less. Potentially a lot less. Overeating or eating too fast can make people on a GLP-1 drug feel nauseous and suffer from heartburn, severe indigestion, acid reflux, and cramping. The drugs also cause alcohol to be more quickly absorbed, leading to dehydration and inebriation.
That makes Thanksgiving, a largely food-centric holiday, tough to navigate for GLP-1 users, their hosts, and their dinner companions.
So, what is a Thanksgiving host to do? That golden turkey, the gravy, the stuffing, the candied sweet potatoes, the green bean casserole, the mac and cheese, the pumpkin pie — these foods may be less appealing to some people on GLP-1 drugs. And if you are the one taking a weight-loss drug, how do you refuse parts of the bounty without appearing rude?
Obesity experts suggest a number of ways to maneuver around these holiday minefields:
- First of all, if you are on a GLP-1 drug or know someone who is, try to go easy on yourself and others over the holidays. “I always remind people to be kind to themselves and avoid feeling the shame and guilt that comes with food,” says Dr. Mandeep Bajaj, medical director of Baylor Medicine’s endocrinology and diabetes sector.
- Turkey will likely remain in the spotlight this year, since it is the kind of protein-rich food recommended to patients on weight loss drugs. If you are hosting, you could opt to serve a smaller bird, or only breast meat. That can also help your pocketbook, as the USDA is projecting that the wholesale price of a frozen turkey will be $1.32 a pound this November, up from 2024’s 94 cents.
- Hosts can also save money on wine and liquor. A Weight Watchers study found that 45% to 51% of people taking GLP-1 drugs decreased the amount of alcohol they drink. But make sure there is plenty of water or non-sugary juices, as it is important for everyone, including GLP-1 users, to stay hydrated.
- If you are on a GLP-1 drug, don’t skip the medicine near Thanksgiving. Missing one dose won’t diminish the effects of overeating, but it could increase side effects when you start back.
- People on weight loss drugs may choose to prioritize green and leafy vegetables, such as brussel sprouts, green beans (without the fried onions and cream sauce), and salad — dressing on the side. There’s no need to eliminate starchy vegetables like potatoes and corn from the table, but hosts may want to swap out butter for olive oil and use herbs and spices to add flavor instead of salt. “I encourage people to pick a favorite item but keep the portions small,” says Dulce Garcia, a dietician and diabetes educator at Baylor College of Medicine.
- GLP-1 users may want to avoid items such as mac and cheese, biscuits, or other dishes loaded with sugar and starch. This, to some traditionalists, is sacrilege, in which case just make sure that the unhealthy bits don’t take up much space on the plate. Hosts could offer smaller-portioned, fruit-based desserts as an option.
- “Encourage your family to rethink their traditions, and start new traditions,” says Dr. Chika Anekwe, Obesity Medicine Clinical Director at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. “There are a lot of ways to flavor food without adding fat and salt.” She suggests replacing hours at the table with games or other activities.
- Anekwe also recommends that guests skip taking home leftovers. “There is no reason to stretch the holiday meal to a week,” she says.
Then there is that other source of tension at the Thanksgiving table — conversation. A gathering of family and friends can be a minefield any time of the year for people who struggle with weight, but a holiday built around food ratchets up the pressure. If someone is eating a lot less than everyone else, or the host is deviating from well-loved dishes, that can bring uncomfortable questions, and judgement.
“Unfortunately, there is a lot of stigma around weight loss drugs and we need to address that,” says Baylor’s Dr. Bajaj. “It helps to remind people that you take these drugs to be healthy, and you will be sick if you overeat.”
Take heart, though. Given the millions of Americans now using GLP-1 drugs, the medications are becoming more common every year. Guests may decide to ignore their tablemates’ eating habits altogether and focus on something less controversial — like politics.
Source link