Does GLP-1 Huge Success Mean Big Losses for Fitness Business?

[Anonymous]

The alcohol industry should be worried more.

[Anonymous]

airlines - smaller passengers is a big win for them.

[Anonymous]

I’m not on GLP-1s, but have been focused on steadily losing weight over a few years. I will echo what others said - I had zero interest in working out with others in paid workout settings until I got my weight into a range where I felt comfortable sweating and huffing and struggling among other people. I think gyms and trainers will benefit as people look to translate their slimmer bodies into tighter, stronger, and more toned bodies.

Restaurants and bars are going to suffer. There’s a place for the occasional butter/oil slathered indulgence in any diet, but the current industry was built around people eating out or ordering in multiple times per week and buying high margin drinks. The industry needs to offer more options to people who don’t want to blow their diet every time they eat out. I hate it when I travel and eat a 750 calorie salad that leaves me starving when a 350 calorie salad I make at home fills me up for hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I had to guess, here are the winners and losers in terms of where people spend there money

Winners:
Protein supplement products
Gyms and workout gear
Outdoor recreation gear
Clothing
Beauty products

Losers:
Alcohol
Restaurants
Snacks and junk food
General groceries as people eat less
Diet-based weight loss industry (because people need less help eating well)

This is based on my own activity. Since losing 15% of my body weight, I workout tons more, eat out less, snack less, am willing to spend more money on quality fashion pieces and beauty products as I feel better about myself

this was reported on recently.

Restaurants are taking a hit and we might see restaurants responding with lower portion foods that cost a bit less.

Chipotle, etc are taking a hit.

Groceries stores... yea, I didn't see this coming, but less food. IDK, for my family my boys are still eating a ton (they are underweight for their height).

I am doing more quality workouts like Pickleball, hiking, yoga. the gym classes might take a hit.

Clothes.. oh wow, I have gone down 1 size but my friends have gone down 2 or 3 so definitly need new clothes.

If Chipotle is taking a hit it is not because of GLP-1. Chipotle is the only fast food you can eat. No rice, double chicken is about as good as you can do. More people on GLP eating there now than before.

false. GLP-1 is not anti-carb

No. But if you want to lose weight and you are over 25 you have to watch carbs.

And not false --- Cava and Chipotle are filled with cops/fire/military guys because they can eat this, keep carbs low and get the right protein. Same with people on diets. It is what you want to do.

The shots have made me repulsed by meat and I’m losing weight and not losing muscle. I’m 50 and have gone for more than one body composition scan so I know that it’s true. I eat a little meat at the end of the week occasionally when I can. It’s false that everyone on this is eating only low carb now.

1 person’s story doesn’t change general trends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m not on GLP-1s, but have been focused on steadily losing weight over a few years. I will echo what others said - I had zero interest in working out with others in paid workout settings until I got my weight into a range where I felt comfortable sweating and huffing and struggling among other people. I think gyms and trainers will benefit as people look to translate their slimmer bodies into tighter, stronger, and more toned bodies...

many similar posts like this so congrats... but i guess i need a new hobby in this 'new body.' I actually still don’t have any sort of regular exercise regiment after 100+lb lost. and yes fitness difference is drastic - walking through the parking lot into a store would have me winded and now I choose to park at the end because I find it refreshing to stretch my legs. And I sleep so much more comfortably now too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:airlines - smaller passengers is a big win for them.

LA Times: Weight-loss drugs could save U.S. airlines more than $500 Millions a Year
https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2026-01-15/weight-loss-drugs-help-airlines

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:not on GLP-1 (yet?) and not a gym goer so no skin in the game but am curious who wins who loses in this new weight loss era. my amateurish take is gyms/personal trainers will see a significant loss of relevance both short term and long term because quick and easy solution always wins, until/unless 20 years down the road GLP-1 bad side effects scare many user away. so maybe half of it goes out of business.

No

GLP's are going away by 2026 RFK jr does not like them....

[Anonymous]

Ive had a Peleton for 6 months and was barely using it (maybe 1x a week since the initial excitement of getting it). Since starting GLP-1s I used it alot more, take the weightlifting/ ab workout classes bc my prescripting doctor always asks about strength training and ab work.

If I could go to a gym (cant really get there right now with work schedules and being a single parent) I would totally do it more now that I have lost 30 pounds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I had to guess, here are the winners and losers in terms of where people spend there money

Winners:
Protein supplement products
Gyms and workout gear
Outdoor recreation gear
Clothing
Beauty products

Losers:
Alcohol
Restaurants
Snacks and junk food
General groceries as people eat less
Diet-based weight loss industry (because people need less help eating well)

This is based on my own activity. Since losing 15% of my body weight, I workout tons more, eat out less, snack less, am willing to spend more money on quality fashion pieces and beauty products as I feel better about myself

this was reported on recently.

Restaurants are taking a hit and we might see restaurants responding with lower portion foods that cost a bit less.

Chipotle, etc are taking a hit.

Groceries stores... yea, I didn't see this coming, but less food. IDK, for my family my boys are still eating a ton (they are underweight for their height).

I am doing more quality workouts like Pickleball, hiking, yoga. the gym classes might take a hit.

Clothes.. oh wow, I have gone down 1 size but my friends have gone down 2 or 3 so definitly need new clothes.

Shake Shack just came out with lettuce wraps so the businesses are trying to adjust. I think fast food is probably taking the hardest hit.

Shake shack has always done this, but it wasnt advertised so much. They are actually pretty good and stay together.

Chipotle has a new menu advertised to GLP-1 crowd and I was impressed on my one visit. I got one taco for $3.50 the other night and it was great. They also have cups of just meat for $5 or less.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A friend who is a personal trainer says her business has been gutted and she is struggling. Another friend who is a personal trainer is thriving, working specifically with older clients, many of whom are on GLP1 meds.

That might be a correlation with people cutting back due to the economy and higher cost of living putting a squeeze on households. DH will not be renewing his trainer contract since he will be taking a group class instead. The Substitution Effect is real.

This. Or…

- people had to return to work in person
- lost jobs
- job insecure
- college costs coming/are here
- trying to save more where possible
- things like groceries are higher so cutting back where possible

Right. I used to be a member of Orange Theory and am getting calls all the time to come back since Im on their list. I think its the RTO or job loss (in the DC area at least) that is prob hurting them the most.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The CEO of Planet Fitness was interviewed by the NYT in an article that appeared yesterday. She says that because people are losing weight on GLP1s, they are seeing an uptick in gym goers. The weight loss makes people more confident about going to the gym and when you are on a GLP1 you are encouraged to lift weights to combat muscle loss.

Planet Fitness forecasts 9% growth in 2026, beats Q4 estimates; shares dip
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/planet-fitness-forecasts-9-growth-121516535.html