If you want to lose weight, you probably won’t be reaching for a Kit-Kat.
But chocolate bar maker Nestle has started work on new products for people who may be taking weight loss medication, to ensure problems don’t arise if people cut their calorie intake and stop buying sweets.
Mark Schneider, chief executive of the Swiss food giant, said that Nestle has yet to see any impact on the company’s sales from weight-loss drugs such as Wegovy and Ozempic, addressing the threat the drugs pose to the junk food industry, which is driving investors. scary in recent weeks.
Nestle shares fell this month after Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, reported a drop in food consumption due to the use of appetite suppressants.
Kit Kat maker Nestle has started work on a new range of products for people who may be taking weight loss drugs, to ensure the company doesn’t suffer losses if people start cutting calories
“We are already working on a wide range of products that can serve as add-on products,” Schneider said during a results briefing.
He told Bloomberg: “When you eat less, you have certain needs for vitamins, minerals and supplements.” You want to be sure that weight loss is supported. You want to make sure you limit the loss of muscle mass.”
“The majority of our portfolio will be untouched by this new class of weight loss drugs,” he said.
Globally, Nestlé’s biggest businesses are coffee and pet care, while frozen food, candy and ice cream make up 15 percent of sales.
“We’re watching this closely and will keep you posted,” Schneider said.
Wegovy, originally intended to treat diabetes but now approved for weight loss, reduces food cravings and helps people feel fuller longer and eat less. It has been proven to help patients reduce their body weight by about 15 percent when used in combination with exercise and lifestyle changes.
Ozempic and Wegovy are linked to another serious health condition
The use of the slimming agents Ozempic and Wegovy may increase the risk of serious digestive problems.
It is available in the USA, Norway, Denmark and Germany – all countries where Nestle sells its products.
In the last three months of 2022, healthcare providers wrote more than nine million prescriptions for appetite suppressants such as Wegovy and the similar product Ozempic.
That number is likely to have skyrocketed since demand for drugs like Ozempic, which is only approved for diabetes but is prescribed off-label for weight loss, and Wegovy has surged this year.
Current analyzes show that up to 15 percent of Americans – about 150 million people – have now tried the drugs.
Amid this rapidly rising trend that shows no signs of stopping, retailers have already seen a significant impact on the number of grocery purchases and restaurant orders.
Thomas Makkos, the owner of Nello on Madison Avenue, New York, previously told the New York Post that the restaurant now offers tapas-sized portions and smaller versions of popular dishes such as the Gnocchi Mona Lisa. The standard version of this meal costs $51, while a recreated, more modest version costs $39.
Several other restaurants on the Upper East Side are developing in a similar fashion.
Sammy Muscovic, owner of nearby Sojourn and Sojourn Social, said the locations have started serving smaller versions of flagship menu items, including burgers without fries and three egg rolls for $8 instead of $12 for five.
Major banks such as Morgan Stanley estimate that 24 million people, or 7 percent of the US population, will be taking weight loss medications by 2035.
An analysis by the bank also estimates that patients prescribed the drugs will consume a quarter of the sweets, confections and other junk foods they once did – saving billions of dollars in annual revenue.
And companies are already scared. A recent analysis shows that executives at junk food companies are increasingly talking to investors about the drugs.
Pamela Kaufman, a food analyst at Morgan Stanley, said in a report: “The food, beverage and restaurant industries may see weaker demand, particularly for unhealthier foods and higher-fat, sweet and salty options.”
The new class of drugs can lead to a 20 to 30 percent reduction in daily calories, and people tend to eat fewer foods high in sugar and fat, meaning makers of chips, cookies and pastries face a setback stare, while the banks to accept a decline. An increase in consumption of up to three percent is predicted by 2035.
Ozempic and Wegovy are brand names for the drug semaglutide, which suppresses appetite and causes weight loss.
It is a once-weekly injection that requires a doctor’s prescription.
The drugs bind to the GLP-1 receptor, a protein that activates hormones in the brain that keep the stomach full and tell the body to stop eating and avoid food cravings.
This year, doctors have already written more than 800,000 prescriptions for Ozempic’s sister drug Wegovy.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
