Is global interest in fasting, intermittent fasting and the liver shifting?

Abstract

A recent article highlighted the hepatic benefits of intermittent fasting, particularly during Ramadan. However, the rising use of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)/glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor agonists (RAs) is altering public behavior, leading to decreased interest in diet and exercise. With a focus on hepatic health, we analyzed global search trends using Google Trends™ data from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2024, focusing on the keywords "fasting", "intermittent fasting", "diet", "nutrition", "liver", Semaglutide ("Ozempic"™, the most widely known GLP-1 RA) and Tirzepatide ("Mounjaro"™, a newer dual GLP-1 and GIP RA). Search interest for "intermittent fasting" and "diet" showed a significant decline over time (Spearman's rho: -0.582 and -0.605, respectively, both P < 0.001), while interest in "fasting" and "nutrition" remained stable. Search interest for Semaglutide, Tirzepatide, "fasting and liver", "diet and liver" and Semaglutide and "liver" increased (Spearman's rho: +0.914, +0.936, +0.369, +0.297 and +0.808, respectively, all P < 0.001). These findings suggest a trend of shifting away from traditional dieting toward broader health concerns, likely influenced by the increasing use of GLP-1/GIP RAs.