About 11% of U.S. adults said they were actively using a GLP-1 medication for weight loss in a July 2026 Gallup National Health and Well-Being Index survey, up from 3% in 2024. The GIANT Company cited the survey as it expanded support for customers using the medications.
The services include grocery tours, online classes and pharmacy support at GIANT and MARTIN'S stores. The CMS materials reviewed for this report confirm federal policy changes, but do not independently verify the survey statistic or the retailer's event schedule and rewards details.
The announcement does not provide a nutrition or Supplement Facts panel for any featured shake or powder. Without product-specific serving size, calories, protein, fiber, added sugars and ingredient amounts, shoppers cannot compare formulations or assess a protein-to-calorie ratio.
Food guidance and pharmacy access
GIANT says its October Talk & Tours are free, one-hour sessions about nutrition for GLP-1 users. Dietitians are scheduled to discuss foods rich in protein, fiber and other nutrients. They will share recipe ideas and offer samples. Registration is required, and space is limited.
Six Pennsylvania sessions are listed. They are scheduled for Oct. 6 at 10:30 a.m. in Hummelstown and 6:30 p.m. in West Chester; Oct. 8 at 10:30 a.m. in York; Oct. 13 at 10:30 a.m. in Camp Hill; Oct. 15 at 10:30 a.m. in Gettysburg; and Oct. 20 at 10:30 a.m. in Willow Grove. The CMS sources reviewed do not verify these local listings. Confirm registration and availability with GIANT or MARTIN'S.
Claims such as 'gut health,' 'immune support' or 'clean energy' are not proof that a shake will prevent or treat a condition. For products regulated as dietary supplements, FDA guidance distinguishes structure/function claims from disease claims; shoppers should still check the actual ingredients, amounts and product category rather than treating marketing language as clinical evidence.
GIANT and MARTIN'S also list free "Living Well" virtual classes every Wednesday in October. A dietitian or pharmacist leads each class. Topics include healthy eating, managing side effects and nutrition strategies for people taking GLP-1 medications.
Participants can earn 50 CHOICE points per class, the retailer says. To qualify, they must provide a GIANT or MARTIN'S card number and state when joining. Points are awarded in the first seven days of the following month, with one account eligible per class. These are retailer-specific rewards, not federal program benefits.
Check the terms carefully.
GIANT says all its pharmacies participate in the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge Program. It says eligible Medicare Part D patients can access certain GLP-1 medications for weight loss and weight management through Dec. 31, 2027, with a $50 copay. CMS confirms that it announced a federal $50-per-month GLP-1 initiative on May 6, 2026. That confirmation alone does not establish every eligibility, participation or duration detail GIANT describes. Patients should check coverage and eligibility with their plan, pharmacist and prescriber before relying on a stated copay.
Federal drug policy is not a nutrition label
CMS's GLOBE model is a separate drug-payment policy. It is not a grocery benefit or a guarantee of a particular GLP-1 price. The five-year model is scheduled to run from Jan. 1, 2027, through March 31, 2032, in randomly selected geographic areas. Those areas will affect about 25% of people with Original Medicare. Potential savings for affected patients are expected to begin April 1, 2027. Manufacturer rebates and payment reconciliation under the model may continue through March 31, 2034.
In October 2026, CMS also projected that average prescription-drug premiums in Medicare Advantage plans would fall 38% in 2027. Average Medicare Advantage premiums were projected to decline by more than 16%. These projections cover insurance premiums overall. They are not a separate estimate of GLP-1 drug costs or of what a nutrition shake costs or contains.
Compare products mentioned during a store tour by checking the package's Nutrition Facts or Supplement Facts panel. Match serving weights in grams, calories, protein grams, fiber and added sugars. A protein powder is not automatically a meal replacement. Check whether it provides the energy and other nutrients expected of a meal, and whether its serving size matches how people actually prepare it. USDA's FoodData Central provides reference data for foods. The product's own label remains essential for its declared contents.
Ingredients matter, too. Whey, casein, soy and some plant-protein blends differ in source and amino-acid profile. Check the package for milk, soy, nuts and other allergens. Inulin or chicory-root fiber, sugar alcohols and some gums can affect digestive comfort for some people. A "high fiber" or "low sugar" claim does not mean a particular formulation will feel comfortable. If a blend lists its ingredients under a single proprietary-blend weight, the exact amount of each component may not be disclosed. That limits comparisons.
GIANT's offer differs from health-plan food programs such as the Foodsmart benefits model. GIANT focuses on grocery shopping, classes and pharmacy support. Tour and class schedules and registration are available through GIANT's wellbeing channels. The offer provides access to food guidance and a place to ask medication questions. It is not evidence that a class, food or shake improves treatment outcomes. Customers should discuss medication effects and personal nutrition needs with their healthcare team.
