Key facts
- About 11% of US adults are on GLP-1 drugs for weight loss.
- Cobblers Direct shortens up to 500 belts weekly.
- 90% of GLP-1 users report poor fit in their jeans.
- Users regain about 60% of lost weight within a year after stopping weight-loss drugs.
US consumers taking weight-loss drugs like Novo Nordisk's Ozempic and Eli Lilly's Mounjaro are increasingly turning to cobblers and tailors to alter their clothing as they shed pounds. This trend is driven by a combination of saving money and rising out-of-pocket drug expenses as employers reduce GLP-1 coverage.
Leather repairers have reported a surge in requests for belt, shoe, and bag strap adjustments. Cobblers Direct, with 25 stores in Texas and a mail-in service, is experiencing double-digit growth in its belt-shortening business, with artisans shortening up to 500 belts weekly. Customers are reportedly bringing in multiple belts at once for adjustments.
According to a survey by telehealth platform Trimi, about 80% of GLP-1 users are wearing clothes that no longer fit, waiting an average of six months before buying new items. Jeans are particularly affected, with 90% of users reporting poor fit. Researchers also note that individuals tend to regain about 60% of lost weight within a year after discontinuing these drugs, making them hesitant to invest in entirely new wardrobes.
Secondhand clothing platforms and thrift shops are also benefiting from the trend. ThredUp noted that 43% of buyers who previously wore a waist size 28 or larger are now purchasing smaller jeans. Stitch Fix estimates that at least 20% of its new clients are using GLP-1 medications and seeking assistance with finding appropriate sizes, leading the company to offer more adjustable and stretchy apparel options.