McDonald’s Pilots Smaller Sandwiches, Expanded Salads as GLP-1 Pills Gain Traction
McDonald’s is piloting smaller-size sandwiches and expanding salad and low-calorie options in select US locations to address shifts from rising GLP-1 weight-loss drug use. The company plans menu adjustments across its 40,000-unit global system to sustain traffic and average spend as meal calorie counts decline.
1. Consumer Behavior Shift
Rapid adoption of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs such as those from Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly has led to significant appetite suppression and average calorie reductions. Prescriptions in the US have surged over 300% year-over-year, signaling a long-term change in dining habits among millions of users.
2. McDonald’s Menu Strategy
In response, McDonald’s is piloting smaller sandwich sizes and boosting its salad and low-calorie lineup in select US markets. These tests will inform broader rollouts across its 40,000-unit system as the company seeks to maintain per-store traffic and check averages amid evolving consumer preferences.