Protein demand reshapes U.S. food markets as diets shift and GLP-1 use rises
By Emily Balsamo, Open Markets
A structural shift in U.S. food demand is underway as new federal dietary guidance and the rapid adoption of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs steer consumers toward higher-protein diets.
This change is strong enough to influence national agricultural markets, reversing decades of supply-driven dynamics. Beef consumption continues to rise even as herd sizes shrink and prices climb, while overall meat demand expands rather than substitutes across categories.
The trend is also widening inequality, as higher food costs and access to GLP-1 drugs skew dietary changes toward more affluent consumers.
