Way back in 2017, for DiabetesJournals.org, Deborah Hinnen noted that in a non-diabetes situation, expectations concerning weight loss should be realistic. This, she defined as looking to lose maybe 6 to 8 pounds altogether. Such a modest hope is quite different from the extravagant losses that have, since the advent of GLP-1 RA drugs, been reported in subsequent studies.
But the writer also noted that greater weight loss can be achieved, especially if the patient experiences the “feeling full” effect, and consequently eats less. And — here is the condition that, for the most part, is easier said than done — if the patient exercises conscientiously.
In those days, the potential of this genre of weight-loss drugs was not fully envisioned, and certainly not realized. But even back then, we can safely bet that the idea of “companion” products was a gleam in somebody’s eye.
A lot is going on today in the multifaceted world of seemingly magical weight-loss drugs that include semaglutides or GLP-1 RA drugs, such as Ozempic and Wegovy, as well as tirzepatides like Mounjaro and Zepbound. Will the questions ever end?
One very relevant query is, how many friends will the GLP-1 drugs eventually succeed in bringing to the party? We have discussed the companion candies that are meant to get some valid nourishment into the patient, in order to lessen the expected loss of lean muscle mass. This is only one of the ever-growing variety of supplementary foods created to make sure that enough of the right stuff gets into the diet of folks on the new drugs.
All is not well
By January of this year, it had been determined that a whopping 68% of patients were giving up on the GLP-1 meds before even 12 months had gone by. Even worse, by the 24-month (two-year) mark, six out of seven patients had flat-out discontinued the use of their GLP-1 medication.
But that is not all. Even though they had lost both fat and muscle mass, (and in some cases, muscle would constitute as much as 40% of the loss) the weight had a tendency to come back as pure fat, leaving them, for all practical purposes, worse off than before.
Even the CEO of digital health company Noomy warned that the drug alone is not enough. A regimen is needed too, a strong program incorporating a lot of changed behavior including a high-protein diet and some muscle-building exercise, or else…
[…] they risk losing a significant amount of muscle mass, strength, and bone density, which can result in lowered resting metabolic rate and worsening insulin resistance. All together this may lead to a complication called sarcopenic obesity, which is associated with worse prognoses from chronic disease and higher all-cause mortality.
In fact, Noom, the “highly-adaptable behavior change platform,” offers so many potentially helpful bells and whistles, to stay fit while shedding pounds could easily become a full-time job.
In February, Herbalife introduced its Nutrition Companion Classic, a product line that includes a shake mix, a protein drink mix, and a fiber drink available in a variety of flavors and designed to address the problems of malnutrition and decreased muscle density. These offerings are described as “low-glycemic, suitable for diabetics and vegetarians, presenting an opportunity for the development of diverse and accessible nutrition options for individuals on weight-loss regimens.”
Then in May, Nestlé, which had already quite definitively entered the companion product market, introduced a line called Vital Pursuit. It appears to consist of supplemental foods in the familiar guise of sandwich melts, pizzas, and bowls; described as high in protein, fiber, and nutrients, served up in budget-conscious portions “aligned to a weight-loss medication user’s appetite,” meaning, quite small.
In the following month, for Reuters, Jessica DiNapoli explained thoroughly how Nestlé avoids legal entanglements by not naming on the packaging the drugs to which its Vital Pursuit items are meant to be companions. Nestlé executive Tom Moe communicated that rather than mention the drug connection on wrappers, the company would do its marketing via social media. Other brands are more forthcoming, and will tell customers that their companion product might alleviate the nausea that many people experience from “the shot.”
(To be continued…)
Your responses and feedback are welcome!
Source: “Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonists for Type 2 Diabetes,” DiabetesJournals.org, 2017
Source: “Noom GLP-1 Companion to Add “Muscle Defense” to Promote Safer GLP-1 Use,” BusinessWire.com, 01/19/24
Source: “Herbalife Debuts GLP-1 Nutrition Companion Classic,” TrendHunter.com, 02/15/24
Source: “Nestlé launches frozen food brand aimed at weight-loss drug users,” Axios.com, 05/21/24
Source: “Food companies wade carefully into weight-loss waters,” Reuters.com, 06/20/24
Image by David Shankbone/Attribution 2.0 Generic
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