I’m on GLP‑1s and Can’t Eat Much. Do I Have to Tell My Host?

Our etiquette expert discusses how to navigate dinner invitations and leftovers without oversharing

Lizzie Post,

AARP

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Published January 30, 2026

an illustration of friends dining together at a table

When dinner guests leave a meal half-eaten, is it a sign they didn't like it or are they just on an appetite-reducing GLP-1 medication?

Jon Krause

With a recent study finding that nearly 12 percent of Americans — roughly 40 million — have used a GLP-1 such as Ozempic and Wegovy for diabetes or weight management, it’s no wonder I’m getting an increasing number of questions, like this anonymous one, about how that trend is affecting dining etiquette.

I’m on a GLP-1, and I don’t want to seem rude to my dinner party host by not eating very much. I feel bad seeing all the leftovers, too (maybe other guests are on similar medications?). Should I be telling my hosts that I don’t eat much these days, or is that too specific to discuss?

Imagine being a dinner party host, excited about the gathering you’ve planned and the guests you’ll be entertaining. You’ve prepped the menu, cleaned the house, done the shopping and cooked (or ordered) the meal, only to have half your guests leave much of it on their plates. Half-eaten, it can’t be saved for leftovers, and you wonder: Was something off? Did people not enjoy it? It’s enough to make a host break out in a sweat. Awkward, indeed!

Guests like yourself who are on GLP-1s have said they feel bad about leaving half a meal on their plate and worry that their hosts will think they didn’t enjoy themselves, or feel they’ve wasted their hosts’ time and money.

Luckily, this awkwardness is easily avoided during what we at Emily Post call “The Host-Guest Dance.” Hosts invite, guests respond, hosts ask about accommodations, guests reply honestly, and so it goes, back and forth, as we entertain and are entertained. When you RSVP, let your hosts know you’re eating a bit less these days. You don’t even have to let them know why — that’s your business — though you certainly can if you’re comfortable sharing.

When your host calls, texts or sends a link to invite you to their dinner party, reply in the manner they’ve requested and say something like, “While I have no allergies or restrictions, I am eating quite a bit less these days, so please count on me for about a half portion.” If you’re eating only a little bit less it’s not as necessary, but if you regularly don’t finish half or more of your meal, it’s best to let your host know.

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Now, stating this might invite the question of “Oh, are you all right?” or “What’s got you eating less these days?,” to which you can let someone know that you’re simply eating less, no cause for concern. But if someone specifically asks, “Oh, did you start on a GLP-1?,” it’s up to you whether to say yes or decline to answer, which is OK. Something like “I’m not comfortable discussing why, but I did feel I should let you know” should be enough to alert someone that they’ve overstepped and shouldn’t push the inquiry further, without making them feel like they’ve been rude or offensive.

This is a great reminder for hosts to not ask these questions. There are lots of reasons someone may be eating less, and none of them are polite to inquire about!

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Another thing for hosts to consider is how they serve their guests if they find many meals left partially eaten. Plated meals, while a lovely gesture, mean you can’t salvage the food that’s left, whereas serving buffet or family style allows guests to take only what they anticipate eating. Of course, any great host will encourage their guests to go back for seconds (or thirds!) if they wish. But serving in these two styles will allow a host to package up what doesn’t get consumed rather than putting it in the compost bin.

A final thought for guests: Be sure to compliment your host’s food, especially if you’re eating small portions. It will leave no room for your host to be concerned that something was off or unappetizing.

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Lizzie Post is the great-great-granddaughter of etiquette legend Emily Post. She’s the co-president of The Emily Post Institute, co-author of Emily Post’s Etiquette: the Centennial Edition and co-host of the Awesome Etiquette podcast.

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