Topics: McDonalds, Weight loss, Health, Food and Drink
McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski has confirmed the major fast food chain could update its menu to accommodate the increasing number of people using GLP-1 drugs.
According to global policy think tank RAND, a report in August 2025 found that nearly 12 percent of Americans have used GLP-1 drugs for weight loss.
At the same time, McDonald’s remains the most popular fast food chain in the US, so it’s likely there’s some crossover between customers of the restaurant and those who are using GLP-1s to help shift a few pounds.
In an earnings call on February 11, Kempczinski said McDonald’s is ‘spending a lot of time and paying close attention to’ a ‘shift in consumption’ in relation to GLP-1 availability, USA Today reports.
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However, the CEO said McDonald’s doesn’t appear to have been hit negatively by the increased popularity of the drugs, which can also be used by patients with type-2 diabetes.
"We've looked pretty hard, and we don't yet see evidence of [weight loss drugs] really having a material impact on our business," Kempczinski said.
"Fortunately for us, protein is one of the areas that this consumer, the GLP-1 consumer, is still very much interested in, and we've got a great protein offering on our menu," he continued, referring to some of the restaurant's menu items such as Sausage Biscuit sandwiches and McCrispy Strips.
But while McDonald’s already has a ‘great protein offering’, Kempczinski made clear the chain is open to adapting the menu where needed.
Explaining that McDonald’s is expecting changes in behavior which may see customers leaning more towards high-protein, low calorie choices, he said: "All of those things are factoring into some of what we're out there experimenting with and testing with, and ultimately, as we learn more about that and get feedback from our customers, those things could make their way onto the menu.”
GLP-1 medications work by mimicking the GLP-1 hormone, which is usually created by the small intestine and triggers insulin release, slows the emptying of stomach, and increases how full you feel after eating.
As a result, the drugs help reduce the appetite of those who take them, typically reducing food intake and resulting in weight loss.
While we all love a McDonald's every now and again, Cleveland Clinic advises those using GLP-1 medications to eat mainly nutritionally packed foods such as leafy greens and apples, as well as lean protein sources like fish, chicken, tofu and beans, and whole grains like oats and quinoa.
