GLP-1 use is reshaping how many people think about food, appetite and daily nutrition. This article explores how fibres, functional carbohydrates and proteins can support more balanced product concepts in this changing landscape. We look at consumer behaviour shifts, formulation opportunities and practical considerations for brands developing products for evolving GLP-1 nutrition needs.
In this article, we explore:
- Changing eating habits in the GLP-1 era
- Mealtime and appetite patterns
- Prebiotic fibres and functional carbs
- Palatinose™ and steady energy release
- Product design for smaller appetites
How GLP-1 is reshaping everyday eating habits
Weight management has been a hot topic among customers for decades already, but the uprising of GLP-1 medications has reshaped the landscape tremendously. Particularly in the United States there has been a shift in everyday life because of it. Furthermore, it is changing what people expect from food. Across all areas of food services, you can feel the same request in different voices: meals and snacks should feel satisfying, be nutritious and help the day run smoother, whether medication is part of the journey or not. For developers, that doesn’t mean competing with a prescription. It means building foods that with each serving should fulfil rising expectations, quietly and consistently. The question isn’t “What replaces a drug?”. It’s “What helps people eat well when choices matter more?”
Mealtime, through a GLP-1 lens
GLP-1 is a natural, gut-derived hormone that is released after we have our meal. It has beneficial effects such as blood glucose control and appetite reduction. GLP-1 is released by the L-cells located in the lower parts of the small intestine and is triggered by nutrients arriving there. In practice, that means ingredient choices can impact how a meal feels an hour or two after eating.
Prebiotic fibres: benefits that add up
Prebiotic fibres from chicory root have been shown to stimulate the secretion of gut hormones such as GLP-1. Beyond their role in digestive health, they also contribute to balanced blood sugar levels when replacing sugar in formulations. BENEO’s Orafti Inulin and Oligofructose are prebiotic fibres from chicory root. Prebiotics from chicory root have shown to increase satiety hormones like GLP-1 and PYY and shown to reduce body weight and fat mass in clinical studies- an ideal ingredient to prevent weight regain.[1]
Proper nourishment is crucial for the body for people during and after GLP-1 medications and for people who pursue weight loss simply by reducing their calorie intake. BENEO’s chicory root fibre help to close the fibre-gap and provide important nutrients. They also increase the absorption of calcium to help support bone health – an interesting aspect as, especially during quick weight loss, bone density can also suffer.
A calmer post-meal pattern because of Palatinose™
Recent studies have shown that Palatinose™ (isomaltulose), a naturally sourced carbohydrate, plays a beneficial role in weight management based on its slow-release property.[2] This smart carbohydrate promotes the release of beneficial gut hormones, including GLP-1, and shifts metabolism towards fat burning.
High-glycaemic carbohydrates deliver glucose rapidly, often followed by an energy dip that invites another quick fix. Slow-release carbohydrates on the other hand change that curve. Palatinose™ is one of those slow-release sugars. A scientific study has proven that it stimulates the release of GLP-1 and other beneficial gut hormones in overweight adults, even when consumed prior to a meal (Zhang et al [3]). For those who are on GLP-1 medication, PSE is even more ideal for sustained satiety and blood sugar balance. This because due to their medication use, their caloric intake drops significantly, along with their energy levels so they need quality ingredients to counter this.
Protein that supports the journey
When overall calorie intake drops, because of medication or during non-medicated phases through other methods, protein needs come into sharper focus, including support for maintaining muscle mass. Plant-based options such as rice and faba bean ingredients complement each other to provide a complete amino-acid while meeting sensory and formulation goals.
What this looks like in US-friendly formats
These ideas translate directly to familiar categories, without reinventing the shelf. A ready-to-drink breakfast shake or a spoonable yogurt that combines meaningful protein with prebiotic chicory root fibres can set a steadier tone for the morning. The effect people describe “I’m not chasing a snack by 10:30” matches the physiology these ingredients support. Snacks, bars and bites can remain indulgent while swapping part of the high- glyceamic sugar ingredients for a steadier blood glucose release option. In desserts, chicory root adds fibre and cuts sugar while maintaining creaminess, so the “treat” still tastes like one.
The through-line is restraint without austerity. Products don’t need to read as “functional” to function. They need to taste right and keep the afternoon from becoming a willpower test.
Designing for smaller appetites without smaller benefits
Another practical consideration in the GLP-1 era is the distribution of nutrients across the day. When portions shrink, every meal counts to fuel your body with the proper nutrition. For example breakfast items that help close fibre gaps, snacks that are protein-enriched and deliver more than calories and can ease possible cravings, desserts that bring texture and a steadier blood sugar curve with fewer sugars, … The possibilities to fulfil consumers’ needs are endless. It also argues for versatility: products that work for those on medication and those not using it, so household preferences don’t require separate baskets.
Prebiotic chicory root fibres and slow-release carbohydrates are useful precisely because they’re flexible. They fit sweet and savoury, ready-to-drink items, dairy and non-dairy, … They also play well with increasing demand for plant-based proteins, supporting formats that are on-trend and familiar. Over time, that flexibility can help portfolios evolve with consumer needs, rather than chasing them. And with growing scientific evidence showing the benefits of these ingredients, the possibilities to support different weight management journeys only grow.
Why appetite patterns, not headlines, should set the brief
GLP-1 conversations often focus on the medications themselves: who’s on them, what happens after quitting and how supply is tight worldwide. Those questions matter, but day-to-day eating is more stable than the news cycle. Appetite can be lower for months which can lead to the portion sizes shrinking before nutrition quality catches up. So choosing foods that are nutrient-dense is more relevant than ever.
The use of the right ingredients and food choices encourage patterns that people notice in everyday language: fewer peaks and valleys in energy, fewer cravings and a sense that smaller portions still do their job of providing a full feeling and the correct nutrition. All while not having to make any compromises on taste, which remains a non-negotiable factor in food choices.
Inform consumers on what they are eating
Even though eating habits are changing and people think more about their food choices, label language can stay simple. The key aspect is to be informative in an understandable manner. Clearly stating the grams of protein and fibre per serving, clear ingredient names, … Clarity always helps as it invites trust and makes repeat purchases more likely. On-pack claims are also a way to gain more consumer trust. Because the scientific evidence behind BENEO’s ingredients, multiple claims and cleaner labels are possible!
Moving into the future and looking ahead
As GLP-1 usage expands and evolves, expectations for food will continue to rise. Shoppers will keep asking for products that satisfy and support, not just “fit the diet.” For developers, that favours designs that earn their place: balanced nutrition that feels good to eat, while offering benefits that consumers can truly feel.
If the industry meets that brief, the result won’t feel like a trend. It will feel like a new baseline. A shelf where breakfasts don’t boomerang into mid-morning crashes, snacks avoid the spike-and-slump cycle, and desserts keep their role while working a little harder behind the scenes. In other words, food that helps people stay on track without making “being on track” the main event.
If you want to know more about our star ingredients and how they can support weight management, read more here or get in touch with us!
References
[1] Cani et al. (2009) ; Gut microbiota fermentation of prebiotics increases satietogenic and incretin gut peptide production with consequences for appetite sensation and glucose response after a meal. Am J Clin Nutr 90 (5), pp. 1236–1243. http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/90/5/1236.full.pdf.
[2] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39313030/
[3] Zhang J. et al (2024); Isomaltulose Enhances GLP-1 and PYY Secretion to a Mixed Meal in People With or Without Type 2 Diabetes as Compared to Saccharose. Molecular Nutrition and Food Research. 68(4):e2300086, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38332571/ (online since 08/02/2024)
https://www.ift.org/news-and-publications/blog/2025/smarter-nutrition-in-the-age-of-glp-1s