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Lifestyle

Environmental impact: less food, less CO2?

Worldwide, our food is responsible for about a quarter of all greenhouse gases — mainly from meat and dairy. So anyone who eats less and more plant-based reduces their CO2 footprint. With medical weight loss, food intake often drops, and that can lower that part of your footprint. See it as a nice side effect, not a reason to use medication: that remains a medical choice, and the individual climate effect is modest. Below are the facts, with sources.

Food and CO2: the link

According to sources such as Our World in Data and Milieu Centraal, food accounts for about a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions. Most of it comes from animal products (meat and dairy) and from food waste. An average Dutch diet is estimated to account for around 1.5–2 tonnes of CO2 per person per year — an estimate that depends heavily on what you eat.

What does eating less or differently do?

Your footprint drops mainly if you eat less meat and dairy and waste less — and, to a lesser extent, simply by eating less. If you structurally eat smaller portions and meat less often, that part of your footprint goes down with it. Exactly how much depends on what you eat less of: one portion less of beef weighs far more heavily than one snack less. You can read about practical, healthy choices at eating & nutrition.

And medical weight loss?

GLP-1 medication dampens appetite, so people often eat less (see how it works). As a result, food-related emissions can decrease somewhat. But be honest about this: this effect has not been scientifically quantified per person, is modest at the individual level, and the medication, its production and the surrounding care themselves also have a (small) footprint. So it is a side effect, not a climate measure.

A possible environmental benefit is never a reason to start medication. The medication is prescription-only and a doctor assesses whether it is suitable.

Keep it in perspective

The biggest climate levers lie elsewhere — energy, transport, housing and your overall diet. Losing weight with medicines is first and foremost a health choice; see who it is suitable for and discuss it with a doctor. If you want to lower your footprint specifically, less meat and less waste help regardless — with or without medication. See also alternatives without medication.

Frequently asked questions

Do you save CO2 if you lose weight with medicines?
Possibly a little: eating less often means fewer food-related emissions. The effect is modest at the individual level and cannot be precisely quantified. See it as a side effect, not a reason to use medication.
Exactly how much CO2 do you save?
There is no reliable figure for this per person. What counts most is less meat and dairy and less waste; that lowers your footprint more than simply eating less.
Is losing weight good for the climate?
Eating less and more plant-based is good for your footprint, regardless of weight loss. Losing weight with medicines remains a medical choice; any environmental benefit is a bonus, not a goal in itself.

Official sources on this topic

Independent, authoritative information from official bodies:

Read more

Eating & nutrition during treatment→Alternatives without medication→How much weight do you lose?→Compare the clinics→