WeightWatchers wades into Wegovy and Ozempic market by buying telehealth firm trends now
WeightWatchers is moving into the booming fat-loss injection market, it announced today.
The company is buying digital health firm Sequence, a $99-a-month subscription service that offers virtual appointments with doctors who can prescribe weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy.
It means WeightWatchers customers will be able to access medical interventions alongside the food-tracking and lifestyle alterations it already offers.
The drugs - originally targeted for people with diabetes - have exploded in popularity after several celebrities and influencers were rumored to have used them to slim down, including Kim Kardashian and Elon Musk.
The anti-obesity drug market is soaring after the FDA's approval of Wegovy and Ozempic, with global sales of all obesity drugs expected to total $30 billion by 2030.
WeightWatchers has long offered food-tracking and lifestyle alterations, but is now looking to offer customers a medical answer to weight loss
Sima Sistani, WeightWatcher’s chief executive, called the fat-melting shots 'the biggest innovation in our industry today', reported the Wall Street Journal.
She said: 'There's real excitement for the health outcomes of these medications.'
Sequence opened its services in 2021 and had accumulated 24,000 members as of last month.
Subscribers are first asked about their height, weight and existing medical conditions.
They can then access physicians who can prescribe weight-loss meds. They can also download an app to measure their weight loss and meet online with dietitians and fitness coaches.
WeightWatchers' chief scientific officer Gary Foster said the company intends to promote Sequence's services to its members.
It also hopes to offer programs for people using weight-loss drugs focused on retaining and regaining muscle, since this is a side effect of shedding the pounds.
But he added: 'We know weight management isn’t one-size-fits-all and clinical interventions are not medically or otherwise appropriate for everyone, which is why we remain committed to all pathways.'
The deal is due to be finalized between April and June this year.
WeightWatchers is estimated to have around 5million
