Weight-loss drug users turn to supplements as doctors and regulators raise flags
TGT•Users of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs are turning to supplements to address side effects, as US supplement sales topped $74 billion in 2025. Doctors have raised safety concerns, while the FDA is considering tighter oversight of ingredients and marketing.
1. Growing supplement use
Some GLP-1 users say supplements such as fiber, collagen and electrolytes help ease side effects. One user cited monthly costs of $200 to $300; another said her supplements cost about $110. Nearly half of GLP-1 users surveyed by the Nutrition Business Journal said they began taking new vitamins or supplements after starting the drugs.
2. Sales and retail trends
TikTok Shop generated more than $1 billion in dietary supplement sales in 2025, equal to 5.4% of all e-commerce supplement sales, according to the Nutrition Business Journal. A Boston Consulting Group survey found GLP-1 users spend roughly 20% more on protein, fiber and collagen than before starting the drugs. Target is expanding its supplement offerings, and The Vitamin Shoppe reported double-digit sales growth this year in fiber and creatine.
3. Regulatory scrutiny
Dietary supplements do not need FDA preapproval, prompting concerns from medical researchers about product contents and online marketing claims. The FDA has issued guidance on submissions for new dietary ingredients, and a proposed rule would eliminate a pathway that lets food companies declare ingredients generally recognized as safe without notifying the agency. Industry groups and executives warned the proposal could create review backlogs.
