New York
CNN
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GNC, the vitamin and dietary complement chain, has been struggling for years. The model hopes a brand new technique tailor-made to individuals taking GLP-1 medicine for weight reduction will assist draw clients into shops and develop its enterprise.
GNC introduced Monday that it was including a devoted part in its 2,300 US shops with nutritional vitamins, protein shakes and dietary supplements tailor-made to individuals managing GLP-1 drugs comparable to Ozempic and Wegovy. GNC can also be coaching retailer staff on widespread side effects of GLP-1s and merchandise the corporate is stocking for these points.
The complete affect of GLP-1s – or glucagon-like peptide 1 agonists – on peoples’ well being stays unclear, however some individuals have reported unwanted effects comparable to muscle loss and gastrointestinal issues. GNC is positioning its model as a retailer that may assist individuals managing these points. Gyms, meals producers and retailers are adjusting their methods to reply to the rise of GLP-1s.
“You’re coping with GLP-1 unwanted effects. Now what? We may help,” advertises an overhead banner in GNC’s new GLP-1 “assist part.”
Danish pharmaceutical firm Novo Nordisk is reaping big income from creating and promoting the hit GLP-1 merchandise. Different giant pharmaceutical firms comparable to Pfizer and Roche are racing to launch their variations to the market.
US well being care suppliers wrote greater than 9 million prescriptions for Wegovy and different injectable medicine used for weight reduction over the last three months of 2022 alone. JPMorgan researchers estimate that 30 million individuals could also be taking GLP-1 medicine by 2030, or round 9% of the US inhabitants.
GNC, which filed for bankruptcy in 2020 and closed greater than 1,200 shops, is the most recent model to construct a method round individuals taking GLP-1s.
WeightWatchers launched a new membership plan for those that offers members entry to docs who can prescribe these drugs. It additionally made a $100 million-plus deal to purchase Sequence, a telehealth enterprise that provides digital prescriptions to sufferers for these weight reduction medicine the place acceptable.
Gyms are adjusting their methods as extra of their members take medications for weight reduction. Luxurious gyms comparable to Life Time are buying weight reduction clinics with docs who can prescribe GLP-1s, whereas Equinox debuted a private coaching program for members taking GLP-1s to protect muscle mass.
Meals firms are additionally bracing for GLP-1 customers to purchase fewer sugary snacks and drinks. JPMorgan final yr stated that present GLP-1 customers bought round 8% much less meals — together with snacks, mushy drinks and high-carb merchandise — over the prior yr, in contrast with customers who weren’t on these medicine.
Meals big Nestlé plans to invest more in nutritious merchandise that it says present “advantages” to individuals on GLP-1 therapies, comparable to its Opifast high-protein shakes.