As appetites shrink, menus get leaner

The Indian diner is eating less and restaurants are responding by cutting portions and making dishes lighter

- Geetika Sachdev

For Gurugram-based marketing professional SP, 34, eating out was once a way to unwind after long workdays with sushi dinners and Sunday brunches that often doubled as preparation for the week ahead.

Over time, the routine led to weight gain and lifestyle concerns, though she wasn’t ready to give up on it. Today, her table looks different: smaller plates, shared mains and desserts declined with an easy “I am full.”

For the past two months, SP has been on a GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) medication, which has gradually curbed her appetite. “You hit a point where you're done,” she says. "And pushing past that just feels uncomfortable.” She hasn’t told even her closest friends, describing it simply as “trying to eat lighter.”

Her experience reflects how eating-out behaviour is beginning to evolve as GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro—originally developed for Type 2 diabetes—move beyond early adoption in urban India. In the West, where these medications are widely used and linked to faster satiety and slower digestion, restaurants have begun adjusting menus for lower consumption, with smaller portions, and lighter dishes.

A 2021 Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology study found participants lost 5.9-6.8kg over 40 weeks on semaglutide. In India, where over 101 million people live with diabetes and 254 million are classified as obese (ICMR, 2021), the demand is rising. With semaglutide patent expiry expected to bring cheaper generics to India, monthly costs could fall from ₹5,000-10,000. According to B2B pharma tech company Pharmarack, the country’s weight-loss drug market has grown dramatically—from $16 million in 2021 to nearly $100 million today.

As these medications become more widely available, despite the risks and side effects, restaurants in India are beginning to reflect similar patterns—through smaller portions and lighter menus even as prices remain the same or rise.