How Burger King is preparing for the GLP-1 revolution

CEO InterviewsHow Burger King is preparing for the GLP-1 revolutionPresident Tom Curtis says the chain is adapting to U.S. consumers’ evolving tastes. And so far, weight-loss drugs haven’t taken a bite out of business.Listen to this article with a free profile00:0000:00Add NBC News to GoogleHow Burger King is navigating changing American eating habits and rising costs03:23Get more newsLiveonShareAdd NBC News to GoogleJuly 19, 2026, 7:01 PM EDTBy Grace Thomas and Hallie JacksonAs weight loss drugs reshape how Americans eat, Burger King is gearing up for a future where customers still want fast food — just less of it.Subscribe to read this story ad-freeGet unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.“My impulse has always been that this GLP-1 movement is going to have a profound impact on the industry,” said Burger King’s president of U.S. and Canada, Tom Curtis, in an interview in Miami for NBC’s Business in America franchise.“We haven’t seen it yet, so I keep telling the team, ‘Hey, we need to be prepared for this,’” he said. At Burger King, the preparations have already begun.Curtis said the chain is testing menu items like Whopper Bites and protein-forward bowls, partly to accommodate the shifting tastes of GLP-1 users.The goal isn’t to completely reinvent Burger King, but to make sure it stays relevant as Americans consume fewer calories and increasingly seek out protein-rich meals.The evolving strategy comes as fast-food chains brace for what could become one of the industry’s biggest long-term challenges.GLP-1 medications are on the rise, raising questions about whether consumers will permanently scale back on burgers, fries and other staples that have fueled quick-serve restaurant sales for decades.A July Gallup poll found that 11% of U.S. adults are currently on a GLP-1 medication, nearly four times the share just two years ago.Burger King President Tom Curtis.NBC NewsIn a separate survey by the National Restaurant Association, nearly half of G...