Health
Rise of weight-loss pills could drive down the cost of airplane tickets
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Airfare could become cheaper due to people slimming down, a new theory suggests.
Analysts at Jeffries are predicting that the expanded use of GLP-1 obesity drugs may reduce fuel consumption, which could translate into lower costs for airplane tickets, as Fox Business has reported.
The Wall Street firm suggested that a 10% reduction in average passenger weight could lead to about a 2% savings in aircraft weight, 1.5% lower fuel costs and a 4% boost to earnings per share.
OLDER AMERICANS ARE QUITTING GLP-1 WEIGHT-LOSS DRUGS FOR 4 KEY REASONS
“A slimmer society = lower fuel consumption,” Jeffries reportedly wrote in a note to clients. “Airlines have a history of being vigilant around aircraft weight savings, from olives (pitless, of course) to paper stock.”
These predictions come as weight-loss drug options are growing and the first GLP-1 pill has hit the market, making the medication more accessible.
Jeffries predicts that a 10% reduction in average passenger weight could lower flight costs. (iStock)
Gary Leff, a Texas-based travel industry expert and author of the blog “View From the Wing,” elaborated on this prediction in an interview with Fox News Digital.
“The heavier something is, the more fuel it burns,” he said. “If passengers weigh less, planes require less fuel to fly. If everyone went to the bathroom before they flew, they’d weigh less and burn less fuel, too.”
OBESITY EXPERT REVEALS THE BEST WAY TO DECIDE IF GLP-1S ARE RIGHT FOR YOU
“So, if average passenger weight declines, then flying the same plane on the same route will cost the airline less to operate,” he went on. “And in the most contestable markets, that will bring down fares, too, as airlines compete for passengers.”
Leff suggested that this won’t be true in all markets. Where the “supply of flights is constrained,” like in major cities, these lower costs are more likely to benefit the airlines than the passengers, as “costs fall, but fares do not.”
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
From a clinical perspective, Dr. Krishna Vyas, a plastic surgeon in New York City, noted that under current conditions, the use of GLP-1 medications is “too limited, too uneven and too short-lived to meaningfully lower average passenger weight at a population level.”
GLP-1 drug use is “too limited” to “meaningfully lower” average passenger weight at a population level, according to an expert. (iStock)
“Most patients discontinue therapy within one to two years, and weight regain after stopping treatment is common, making durable, large-scale reductions in passenger mass unlikely,” he told Fox News Digital. “Even if modest fuel savings were realized, there is no evidence they would translate into lower ticket prices.”
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
“GLP-1 medications represent a significant medical advance for individual cardiometabolic health, but extending their benefits to speculative effects on airline economics goes beyond what current clinical and population data support,” Vyas continued.
“Until broader access, durable adherence and sustained population-level outcomes are demonstrated, cheaper airfare should be viewed as a theoretical possibility — not a predictable consequence — of weight-loss drug use.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
Dr. Peter Balazs, a hormone and weight loss specialist in New York and New Jersey, discussed how GLP-1s could potentially impact the in-flight experience.
“Patients on GLP-1s experience reduced cravings for carbohydrates and a heightened preference for protein and fats,” he said. “Airlines may need to reconsider in-flight menus to cater to this growing demographic, offering more high-protein, low-carb options.”
“Airlines may need to reconsider in-flight menus to cater to this growing demographic, offering more high-protein, low-carb options.” (iStock)
Balazs noted that weight-loss medications can lead to gastrointestinal side effects, including GERD, dyspepsia, nausea and vomiting.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
“From a medical standpoint, I would suggest loading up on antiemetics (medications that prevent or relieve nausea and vomiting),” Balazs shared as advice to the airlines. “Furthermore, I would counsel patients not to initiate therapy or administer a first dose shortly before a flight to avoid severe side effects at altitude.”
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Researchers have found that changing your diet — even later in life — may slow the aging process in as little as one month.
Researchers from the University of Sydney assigned 104 participants aged 65-75 to one of four diets. Two of the diets were omnivorous and included protein from both animals and plants. Two included 70% of protein from plant sources.
One omnivorous diet was high in fat, while the other emphasized carbohydrates. The two semi-vegetarian diets were distinguished in the same way. All four diets derived 14% of energy from protein.
DOCTOR SHARES 3 SIMPLE CHANGES TO STAY HEALTHY AND INDEPENDENT AS YOU AGE
“Biological age” essentially means how old the body appears based on health indicators, called biomarkers, rather than how many years a person has been alive.
University of Sydney researchers found that diet changes had an effect on people’s biological ages after four weeks. (iStock/Getty Images)
The scientists measured 20 varied biomarkers, including cholesterol and insulin levels, in participants to determine how short-term diet changes affect biological aging.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
“While chronological age increases uniformly, biological aging varies between individuals, reflecting differences in health status and the body’s resilience,” a University of Sydney report on the study’s findings said.
Biomarker profiles “are often considered a better indicator of overall health and potential longevity than chronological age,” according to the report.
Older adults who ate diets rich in complex carbohydrates and plant-based food reduced their biological age, scientists found. (iStock/Getty Images)
The scientists found that, after four weeks, participants’ biological ages in three of the four diet groups dropped. Only the high-fat omnivorous dieters’ biological ages “showed no meaningful change.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES
The study, “Short-Term Dietary Intervention Alters Physiological Profiles Relevant to Ageing,” published in Aging Cell, concluded that the most pronounced improvements came from “diets rich in complex carbohydrates and plant-based components.”
Participants who consumed an omnivorous diet high in fat did not see changes in their biological ages, though all other types of diets reduced theirs in a University of Sydney study. (iStock/Getty Images)
The research team cautioned that these results are preliminary and may represent only short-term effects.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
“It’s too soon to say definitively that specific changes to diet will extend your life,” said Caitlin Andrews, who led the study. “But this research offers an early indication of the potential benefits of dietary changes later in life.”
Fox News Digital reached out to the researchers for comment.
new video loaded: How Profit-Seeking Autism Clinics Can Harm Kids
By Sarah Kliff, Margot Sanger-Katz, Erin Schaff, Paul Abowd, Jon Miller and Whitney Shefte
May 23, 2026
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
NASCAR star Kyle Busch’s cause of death was revealed Saturday as severe pneumonia that progressed into sepsis, according to a statement released by his family. The two-time Cup Series champion, 41, died on Thursday after a brief hospitalization with a “severe illness.”
“The medical evaluation provided to the Busch Family concluded that severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis, resulting in rapid and overwhelming associated complications,” read the statement, which was shared in a news release and reported by FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass on Saturday.
Busch’s tragic case underscores the dangers pneumonia can pose, especially when left untreated or when symptoms quickly intensify.
NASCAR CHAMPION KYLE BUSCH’S CAUSE OF DEATH REVEALED BY FAMILY
Pneumonia is a respiratory infection that fill the lungs with fluid, making breathing difficult. It can be caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi, according to multiple medical sources.
Symptoms typically include cough, fever, chills, chest pain and shortness of breath.
NASCAR star Kyle Busch’s cause of death was revealed Saturday as severe pneumonia that progressed into sepsis. (James Gilbert/Getty Images)
Busch reportedly had a sinus infection that worsened prior to his death. “This upper respiratory sinus infection progressed to pneumonia,” Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel told Fox News Digital.
Bacterial pneumonia is normally more severe than viral pneumonia, according to Siegel.
SURGE IN WALKING PNEUMONIA AFFECTS THESE HIGH-RISK GROUPS, SAYS DR. MARC SIEGEL
The doctor noted that the physical stress associated with racing simulators — which are designed to mimic the intense G-forces that drivers experience on the track — could potentially aggravate already inflamed lungs during recovery from pneumonia, though direct research on simulator-related effects is limited.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kyle Busch stands with his wife Samantha Busch and son Brexton Busch prior to the Pennsylvania 400 at Pocono Raceway in August 2016 in Pennsylvania. (Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images)
In severe cases, the infection in the lungs can spread into the bloodstream, triggering a widespread, life-threatening inflammatory response known as sepsis — particularly in vulnerable patients or when treatment is delayed, according to Siegel.
Sepsis can quickly lead to tissue damage, organ failure and death if not treated right away.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
“The body reacts to this severe lung infection by making inflammatory chemicals – it’s the immune system revving up,” Siegel said. “But as with a lot of things with the body, the immune system can hurt more than help.”
As sepsis worsens, it can cause a drop in blood pressure and interfere with the delivery of oxygen to the body’s tissues, potentially leading to lactic acidosis — a dangerous buildup of lactic acid in the bloodstream.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
Organ failure is a serious risk, particularly affecting the kidneys, Siegel warned.
“The kidneys fail, toxins from the kidneys build up, blood pressure goes down, fever goes up, the lungs fail — something called ARDS,” he said.
Kyle Busch celebrates his victory in the NASCAR Shelby 427 race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas on March 1, 2009. (Isaac Brekken/AP)
ARDS — acute respiratory distress syndrome — occurs when inflammation causes fluid to leak into the lungs, making it difficult for oxygen to reach the bloodstream.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Common warning signs of sepsis can include confusion, rapid breathing, extreme weakness, low blood pressure, fast heart rate, and bluish or mottled skin, per the CDC.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
Doctors emphasize that sepsis is a medical emergency because patients can deteriorate rapidly within hours.
Those at higher risk for severe pneumonia and sepsis include older adults and smokers, as well as those with chronic lung disease, diabetes, weakened immune systems or recent viral infections.
-
News28 minutes agoTorn by war, Israelis and Palestinians tie their fortunes together
-
New York2 hours agoAs Easy as Riding a Bike? Adult Learners Give It a Try.
-
Los Angeles, Ca2 hours agoA strong El Niño is coming to California. You may notice something different at the beach
-
Detroit, MI2 hours agoDetroit teen charged, will be tried as adult in downtown shooting
-
San Francisco, CA3 hours agoPeople We Meet: For Arieann Harrison, eco-activism is in her DNA
-
Dallas, TX3 hours agoKeeping up with the Thakkars, the embattled Dallas developer family
-
Miami, FL3 hours agoOvernight car burglary, chase under investigation in Pinecrest, police say
-
Boston, MA3 hours agoMedford couple celebrating 70th anniversary
