Nestlé targets weight-loss drug market
17 August 2026 21:24 (UTC+04:00)
Nestlé is looking to turn the growing popularity of GLP-1
weight-loss medications into a new business opportunity. The
company plans to use artificial intelligence and nutritional
science to develop products aimed at millions of people taking
drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy, AzerNEWS
reports
The food giant believes the rise of these medications is
creating a new market for products designed to help consumers deal
with some of the challenges associated with rapid weight loss.
These can include muscle loss, reduced nutrient intake and changes
in facial fat — a phenomenon often referred to as “Ozempic
face.”
According to Boston Consulting Group, around 16 million
Americans are currently using medications that target the GLP-1
pathway, and that number could increase significantly by the end of
the decade
Nestlé Chief Technology Officer Stefan Palzer said the company’s
scientists are studying the effects of rapid weight loss and
developing products that could help consumers maintain muscle
health, hydration and adequate nutrition. The company is also using
AI to analyze large amounts of clinical research and identify
combinations of nutrients that may be beneficial during weight
loss
Nestlé has already begun adapting some of its products. Its
Vital Proteins brand has added collagen protein to certain
products, targeting concerns related to skin, hair and nail health.
In the US, the company has also launched Boost Advanced Nutrition
Shake, which contains 35 grams of protein and is marketed as a way
to support muscle health during weight loss
Meanwhile, in Asia and Australia, Nestlé has introduced Milo PRO
High Protein, a higher-protein version of its popular malt-based
drink
The company is also experimenting with AI-powered consumer
models that can predict how customers might respond to new products
and health claims before those products reach supermarket
shelves
However, not everyone is convinced that GLP-1 users need
specialized foods. Amanda Avery, an associate professor in food and
nutrition at the University of Nottingham, argues that many of the
nutrients promoted in these products can already be obtained from
ordinary foods such as meat, fish, eggs, dairy products, beans,
nuts and other legumes
Still, the potential market is enormous. As GLP-1 medications
become increasingly common, food companies are beginning to compete
for a new type of consumer — one who may eat less but pay more
attention to protein, vitamins, hydration and overall nutritional
quality
An interesting twist is that the GLP-1 boom could change not
only the pharmaceutical industry but also the entire food market.
If millions of people have smaller appetites, companies may have to
rethink what they sell — shifting from products designed to make
people eat more toward smaller, nutrient-dense foods designed to
deliver more nutrition in every bite
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