Nestl rides the Ozempic boom with new companion candies for weight-loss drugs

Health

By Brooke Steinberg

Nestl wants to make your weight loss journey a little smoother.

People trying to lose weight are probably trying to avoid chocolate to the best of their ability, and with the craze around Ozempic and other weight-loss drugs, more and more people are likely to stop taking it. add candy to their basket.

But Nestl announced Thursday that the company was working on complementary products for weight-loss drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro.

Nestl CEO Mark Schneider said there is a market for products that will allow people taking appetite suppressant medications to get the nutrients, minerals and nutrients they need while promoting weight loss. weight.

Complementary products could also help limit loss of lean muscle mass and rapid weight regain, especially since medications are not a permanent solution, Schneider told Bloomberg.

The Swiss food giant is also working on smaller portions for its products and is already selling weight loss products, such as Optifast meal replacements.

Ozempic is a medication designed for people with type 2 diabetes that has become widely used as a weight loss medication.

Ozempic and Wegovy are semaglutides that help the pancreas release the right amount of insulin when blood sugar is high. Mounjaro, its counterpart from Eli Lilly, is a tirzepatide that also helps control blood sugar levels.

The drugs work by mimicking a natural hormone, GLP-1, which slows the passage of food through the stomach, allowing people to feel fuller for longer.

Although Ozempic and Wegovy are widely used for weight loss these days, only Wegovy has been approved for weight loss by the Food and Drug Administration.

Don’t worry, though, anyone who wants to indulge in their sweet treats will still be able to do so.

Schneider reiterated that the majority of Nestl’s products will not be affected by the increase in the use of weight-loss drugs, but that they will carefully monitor whether product demand is affected.

The news comes after it was reported that Nestl shares fell as much as 3.6% on Thursday and the company’s shares fell 6% over the past month. There are fears that weight loss drugs are part of the reason.