On the Horizon examines the trends, technologies and sweeping changes taking shape beyond New Glarus — and considers how they may eventually affect life here. Each installment looks past the immediate headlines to explore what may be coming next, why it matters and what local residents, businesses and community leaders should be watching now.

For generations, success in the American food business has often meant selling more: larger portions, bigger packages, more snacks and more meals consumed away from home.

A new class of medications could begin pushing the country in the opposite direction.

GLP-1 drugs, including Wegovy, Ozempic and similar medications, are changing how many Americans eat. The drugs can reduce appetite and food intake, causing users to feel full sooner and consume less during meals. Tirzepatide, sold for weight management as Zepbound, works through two related hormonal pathways but is commonly included in the broader public discussion about GLP-1 medications.

If their use continues to grow, the effects could reach far beyond doctors’ offices and bathroom scales. They could begin changing grocery stores, restaurants, food packaging, agriculture and the kinds of products consumers value most. Emerging research and consumer surveys also show that many people on these medications report reduced interest in alcohol. In a community whose tourism and identity are closely tied to craft beer, that parallel effect deserves attention.

And that combination could have surprisingly large implications for New Glarus and Green County.