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When looking for GLP-1-linked stocks to buy, investors tend to gravitate towards Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly. That’s because these two companies actually make the two most popular weight-loss drugs today — Wegovy and Mounjaro, respectively.
As the cost of these treatments falls and daily pill versions are released, adoption is set to soar. Indeed, JP Morgan says over 30m Americans could be taking them by 2030, up from 6.8m in 2024.
In the UK, more than 1.6m adults are already using GLP-1s. But the total addressable market is much larger (3.4m planned users through the NHS alone by 2036). Roughly two-thirds of UK adults are classed as overweight.
There are a few firms that I believe could see an incremental sales boost due to this powerful long-term trend, including Next (millions will need new, smaller-sized clothes). With this in mind, here are two UK stocks to check out.
Fitness
Naturally, weight loss can boost confidence to start attending the gym. And this is good news for The Gym Group (LSE:GYM), a leading low-cost operator with 923,000 members across 260 UK sites.
Last year, revenue increased 8% to £245m, with like-for-likes revenue rising 3%. Average revenue per member per month rose 4% to £21.60, displaying an ability to nudge up prices without causing a mass exodus of members.
Adjusted pre-tax profit surged by 194% to £10.6m. Meanwhile, the fitness firm generated £38.3m in free cash flow, which funded all 16 new site openings in 2025. With interest rates possibly rising again, I like this self-funded growth.
Competition adds risk, as would an increase in electricity prices due to the Iran war. But the group has just announced a £10m share buyback, and is targeting another 20 new site openings in 2026 (and 75 over three years). So I think the positives may outweigh the negatives.
It’s worth mentioning that strength training protects against the loss of muscle mass. Doctors are prescribing such training and high-protein diets to GLP-1 users to prevent muscle wastage.
Finally, research group Mintel found over half of 18–24-year-olds hit the gym more than once in the month to July 2025, versus 42% who went to the pub.
Nutrition and supplements
Many gym goers obviously use sports nutrition products and health supplements. So a growth company from the FTSE 250 worth assessing is Applied Nutrition (LSE:APN).
What I like about this ambitious firm is its global reach (it operates in over 85 countries). In the US, for example, its ABE (All Black Everything) pre‑workout drinks range is in Walmart stores.
In the UK, its products are in Tesco, Asda, and Holland & Barrett (where it sells a popular Coleen Rooney co-branded health & beauty range).
For the current fiscal year (ending July), revenue is expected to jump around 30% to £140m, alongside strong margins. This would mark an acceleration from last year.
One risk here is rising cost inflation for ingredients, with whey prices spiking recently due to surging protein demand. While not ideal specifically for its whey protein products (about a fifth of sales), raw materials outside of this ingredient aren’t volatile.
Interestingly, Morrisons is to launch 53 Applied Nutrition-branded food products, including high-protein snacks and GLP-1 friendly ready meals. The stock is trading at just 17.7 times fiscal 27’s forecast earnings.
This story originally appeared on Motley Fool
