As the popularity of GLP-1 weight-loss medications like Ozempic and Wegovy continues to surge, Publix is helping users navigate the grocery aisles with a new brochure featuring recommended foods and ingredients that support their nutrition goals.
The Florida-based grocery chain announced this week that customers can now pick up a free GLP-1-focused brochure titled "Create a Lifestyle That Lasts" at in-store pharmacy counters. The guide is designed to help people using the drugs identify foods and products throughout the store that support weight-loss and wellness efforts.
The brochure includes department-by-department shopping suggestions, nutritional information and ideas for building a balanced grocery list.
Publix is also expanding its in-store and online nutrition resources. Shoppers will see green "Better Choice" shelf tags, which highlight products that offer beneficial nutrients such as fiber while limiting ingredients like added sugar, sodium and saturated fat. The labels are based on the latest nutrition research and federal dietary guidelines, according to the company.
For customers shopping online or through the Publix app, the retailer has added new protein and fiber categories to its digital weekly ads. The feature is intended to make it easier for shoppers to find foods that align with common recommendations for people using GLP-1 medications, which often prioritize higher protein and fiber intake.
The brochure also includes a QR code that directs shoppers to an online product page featuring protein and fiber-rich foods. Customers can filter products by sales and available coupons, and Publix says the page will be updated regularly with new options and promotions.
“Publix continues to innovate and adapt to meet the changing needs of our customers,” Publix Vice President of Pharmacy Katie Scanlon said in a statement. “I am proud of our commitment to support our customers’ well-being journeys throughout the entire store.”
About one in eight adults said they were currently taking GLP-1 medications for weight loss or to manage chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease, according to a November poll published by the KFF, an independent health policy research polling organization. Nearly one in five adults said they have taken a GLP-1 drug at some point, the data also found.
Therefore, food companies are increasingly trying to capitalize on the trend by labeling products as “GLP-1 friendly.” Even items such as tortillas are being marketed as higher in fiber, lower in carbohydrates, or better suited for smaller portion sizes.
However, experts caution that the term has no official regulatory definition, unlike labels such as “organic” or “heart healthy,” meaning it can be used inconsistently across products. Some items may highlight a single positive nutrient while still containing high levels of sugar, sodium or calories, raising concerns that “GLP-1 friendly” is more of a marketing claim than a reliable indicator of nutritional quality.
“A GLP-1 friendly label is good in theory, but it’s bulls***. There’s no real science behind it,” Dr. Zaid Fadul, a physician and former U.S. Air Force flight surgeon, told The Independent this week.
“The companies are definitely hip to what we would recommend somebody to focus on eating on a GLP-1 diet, basically prioritizing protein, produce, fruits and vegetables,” Dr. Ethan Balk, a clinical associate professor at NYU specializing in medical nutrition for bariatric surgery and metabolic weight loss, added.
