WeightWatchers Introduces Exclusive Membership for Ozempic Users
WeightWatchers introduces a groundbreaking telehealth clinic, offering customers the convenience of obtaining GLP-1 weight loss prescription medications like Ozempic and Wegovy through their platform
WeightWatchers is transitioning from a diet culture brand to better cater to individuals taking Ozempic and other GLP-1 weight loss prescription drugs. The company has introduced a new membership plan, the "WeightWatchers GLP-1 Program," which provides members on semaglutide medications with access to prescribing doctors, daily nutrition plans, insurance coordination, and other weight loss support programs.
The clinic is now being promoted on the company's website. The support program is part of the company's $23 monthly membership. For extra access to clinicians who can prescribe weight loss medications, members will need to pay a $99 monthly fee - excluding the cost of the medication. Customers also have the option to get a prescription from their primary care physician.
Sima Sistani, CEO of WeightWatchers.
Erica Shroeder
The approval of Ozempic and Wegovy has caused major disruption in the diet industry. Despite potential side effects and long-term risks, WeightWatchers CEO is betting the company's future on these medications. Approved as Ozempic for treating type 2 diabetes, semaglutide was also used off-label for weight loss. In 2021, Wegovy, the version specifically for weight loss, was approved. These medications work by mimicking a hormone that creates a feeling of fullness, but they do come with potential side effects such as gastrointestinal discomfort. It is important to note that these medications are not standalone solutions and should be used in combination with a comprehensive approach to diet and exercise for sustained weight control.
WeightWatchers' chief scientific officer, Gary Foster, stated in a news release that individuals taking GLP-1 medications require assistance with a distinct set of behavioral challenges compared to those not taking these medications. The weight loss industry has been disrupted by diet drugs, compelling companies like WeightWatchers to adjust. The introduction of the new program represents WeightWatchers' expanding support for semaglutide medications.
In March, WeightWatchers finalized a $100 million-plus acquisition of Sequence, a telehealth company providing virtual prescriptions for weight loss drugs as needed. According to Goldman Sachs analysts, this purchase, along with adopting semaglutides, has prevented the weight loss company from suffering the same fate as Jenny Craig, which closed earlier this year.
The bank analysts predict that by 2031, approximately 15 million adults in the US will be taking these medications, which equates to around 13% of all adults in the country, excluding those with diabetes. They also anticipate that these developments could result in WeightWatchers generating $455 million in new revenue by 2025.
Oprah Winfrey, a board member and shareholder of WeightWatchers, revealed in a published interview on Wednesday that she is using weight-loss medication as part of her maintenance routine. Nicole Goodkind of CNN contributed to this article.
