Nestle will launch a line of high-protein and fiber foods aimed at those taking Ozempic or Wegovy for weight management, the company announced Tuesday.
The line, dubbed Vital Pursuit, is “well-suited to support a balanced diet for anyone on a weight management journey,” and are “portion-aligned” to those taking weight loss medications, the Swiss food company said in a press release.
The food line will offer 12 products at a suggested retail price of $4.99 or under, including whole grain bowls, protein pasta bowls, sandwiches, melts and pizzas, Nestle said. The products will include “essential nutrients” including protein, vitamin A, calcium, vitamin A or iron.
The line will be available at select retailers by this year’s fourth quarter.
The company pointed to the growing number of Americans taking GLP-1 medications, also called semaglutides, stating these medications are “undeniably shaping” peoples’ approach to weight management.
“We know that every consumer on a health journey has individualized needs and considerations, and having options to support those needs will continue to play an important role,” Tom Moe, the president of Nestle’s USA Meals Division, said.
Ozempic and Wegovy were initially intended and prescribed for Type 2 diabetes patients to regulate their blood sugar, but the drugs’ off-label use for weight loss has sparked increased use among Americans.
According to a poll published earlier this month from the health policy nonprofit KFF, 1 in 8 adults say they have taken a GLP-1 agonist. About 62 percent of those individuals say they were using the drugs to treat a chronic condition like diabetes or heart disease, while about 38 percent said they took the medications just to lose weight.
