GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy are best known for their effects on diabetes, weight loss and appetite. But their impact may extend beyond human health. By reducing how much people eat, widespread use of these medicines could also lower demand for food — and with it, some of the environmental pressures associated with food production.

Our recent analysis explores a scenario in which 100 million people use GLP-1 drugs and consume around 500 fewer calories per day. We estimate this could reduce annual food-related emissions by roughly 34.5 million tonnes of CO₂-equivalent, spare about 70,000 km² of agricultural land, and substantially reduce water use and nutrient pollution.

These benefits are not guaranteed. Farmers and food producers may respond in different ways, and reduced demand does not automatically mean land will be restored for nature. Still, the study highlights an intriguing connection: changes in human metabolism and eating behaviour can ripple through entire food systems and ecosystems.

In other words, medicines designed to improve human health may also have unexpected consequences for planetary health.

Read the full paper: O’Bryan, C.J., Szczepanik, M., Martens, P., J.W.H Yong & De Vos, P. (2026). Appetite-suppressing drugs and emerging
implications for sustainability. npj Sustainable Agriculture,  4, 71 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44264-026-00186-1