Heston Blumenthal to reduce portion sizes at Fat Duck to cater for diners on weight‑loss injections

Heston Blumenthal said he will cut portion sizes and create a slimmed-down menu at his flagship restaurant, The Fat Duck, to accommodate diners whose appetites have been suppressed by prescription weight‑loss injections such as Wegovy, Ozempic and Mounjaro.

The chef, who has publicly said he uses Wegovy himself, told industry journal Restaurant that smaller portions and alternative menu options are under consideration because “people are eating less and the quantities of food will put them off.” The Fat Duck, in Bray, Berkshire, is marking its 30th anniversary this year; Blumenthal also owns The Hinds Head in the same town.

Blumenthal raised wider concerns last week about the potential impact of the growing use of glucagon‑like peptide‑1 (GLP‑1) receptor agonists, commonly termed weight‑loss “jabs,” on Britain’s hospitality sector. At a Future of Food seminar organised by trade body UK Hospitality, researchers reported that about 7% of UK adults — roughly 3.6 million people — were using these drugs.

Research from KAM Insight presented at the seminar found that among users of the injections, roughly one‑third said they were eating and drinking out less often and about one‑quarter had reduced their alcohol intake when visiting pubs and restaurants. Blumenthal has urged government attention to what he described as a “really big” looming problem for pubs and restaurants.

"We are going to look at reducing portion sizes and give options of a much smaller menu, because with these weight‑loss drugs, Mounjaro, Ozempic and Wegovy, people are eating less and the quantities of food will put them off — I want to do something about that," Blumenthal said. He has previously called the situation a “paradox” given his role as a restaurateur while taking a medication that suppresses appetite.

Blumenthal has discussed taking Wegovy to counter weight gain associated with his bipolar treatment. He was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2023 after being admitted to hospital following an acute manic episode; he spent three weeks in a psychiatric facility. He told Times Radio last month that while he had gained weight, it was “starting to come off now.”

Hospitality industry representatives have warned policymakers that shifts in consumer behaviour linked to the drugs could affect revenues, particularly in pubs where food and drink sales are central. Trade bodies and some chefs are examining menu strategies, portioning and pricing to adapt to customers who may eat smaller amounts or visit less frequently.

Blumenthal’s move to rework portions at The Fat Duck follows a series of high‑profile comments by chefs and restaurateurs about how GLP‑1s are changing diners’ expectations. Some operators are experimenting with tasting menus of smaller courses, scaled‑down mains or alternative beverage offerings to retain customers while responding to altered appetite and alcohol consumption patterns seen among users of the drugs.

While doctors and public‑health officials say GLP‑1 medications can be effective for weight management and for some people with type 2 diabetes, the rapid rise in prescriptions has prompted discussion in sectors beyond health care about economic and social effects. UK Hospitality and market researchers have highlighted preliminary evidence of altered eating‑out behaviour but note that comprehensive long‑term data are not yet available.

Blumenthal’s planned adjustments to menus at his restaurants underscore the immediate operational questions facing the hospitality sector as it responds to changes in consumer demand. He said he did not oppose the drugs themselves, calling them “good,” but added that the industry needed to adapt because “people just won't eat as much.”