Are weight-loss drugs reshaping business?

Summary

Business Daily – Are Weight-Loss Drugs Reshaping Business?

Host: Hannah Mullane, BBC World Service
Date: March 4, 2026
Episode Focus: The ripple effects of the booming weight-loss drug market—especially GLP1 medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro—on a wide spectrum of industries from food and fitness to pharmaceuticals and economics.

---

Episode Overview

This episode, the final in a three-part series, investigates how the surge in popularity of new weight-loss drugs is transforming business sectors. The discussion spans food manufacturing, consumer spending, fitness trends, and the global economics of obesity, guided by interviews with industry insiders and experts.

---

Key Topics & Insights

1. The Rise and Reach of GLP1 Weight-Loss Drugs

Timestamps: 01:26–02:19

• Drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro, originally intended for diabetes management, have created explosive demand due to their rapid and significant weight-loss results.
• Users regularly report significant and sustained results:
  • Tammy: "I've lost over 32% of my body weight." (02:19)
  • Anonymous: "My first dose of Wegovy, I'm at maintenance, 50 pound down." (02:42)
• Quote, Gabe Zickerman:
  “For anybody considering entering the food business today, if GLP1 support is not core to your business plan, you know, I don't know what your business plan is.” (02:10)

---

2. The Food Industry’s GLP1 Pivot

Timestamps: 03:33–08:42

Interview: Gabe Zickerman, Founder of Two Scoops (LA-Based Ice Cream)

• Zickerman explains Two Scoops’ focus: protein-rich, zero-sugar dessert options designed specifically for people on GLP1 medications.

  • “Our sort of mission is to…make dessert that’s better for you, but doesn’t taste like some kind of science experiment. That’s just pure sadness.” (03:33)

• Two Scoops products emphasize:

  • High protein (30g per pint)
  • No added sugar (uses allulose, a non-glycemic sweetener that may boost GLP1 production)
  • Reformulated inclusions (e.g., zero-sugar, high-protein marshmallow fluff)

• Industry Ripple Effects:

  • Major brands are entering the space:
    • Nestlé launched Vital Pursuit (GLP1-friendly frozen foods).
    • Conagra Brands labels “GLP1 friendly” on Healthy Choice offerings.
    • Danone is developing products for GLP1 users.

• Quote:
  “GLP1s are going to change absolutely everything about the food business...there’s going to be even more demand for protein supplementation, sugar reduction...and better quality foods.” – Gabe Zickerman (05:42)

Economics of Change

• Portion sizes are decreasing, protein content is increasing, costs are going up.
• Zickerman emphasizes that for users, sustained, lifelong medication is attractive if the drug continues to work and has tolerable side effects:
  • “I don’t care about going off this medicine…This medicine works. This medicine has changed my life.” (07:19)

---

3. The Global Economics of Obesity

Timestamps: 09:25–10:34; 16:34–18:33

Expert: Sandra Barboso, Health Economist (ITIF)

• Obesity is both a health and economic crisis:

  • US: Over 42% adults obese (140+ million), $173B annual healthcare costs, 4% reduction in GDP.
  • Global: Nearly 40% overweight or obese; projected to exceed 50% by 2035 with $4T in costs.

• Quote:
  “The costs don’t just come from treating obesity...but also from lost productivity because people who are obese take more sick days, have reduced performance at work, and they also leave the workforce earlier…” (09:25)

• Current GLP1 drug costs are high (Ozempic ~$1,000/month in the US; $300+ with insurance), but the upcoming expiration of patents and introduction of generics could decrease prices by 80% or more, expanding accessibility globally.

• Past drug analogies (e.g., Sovaldi for Hepatitis C) suggest cost reductions and increased uptake in coming years.

---

4. Shifts in Consumer Spending & Lifestyle

Timestamps: 11:42–12:57

• JP Morgan reports a 17% drop in supermarket spending among GLP1 users in the first six months.
• Walmart’s CEO observes customers buying fewer high-calorie products.
• Health and fitness book sales slide by 15% since drug introduction (Sakana Research).
• Exercise spending remains robust or increases, with users motivated to maintain or build muscle alongside weight loss.

---

5. Fitness Industry Adaptation: Case Study—Lifetime Health Clubs

Timestamps: 12:57–16:12

Interview: Jim Laval, Chief Science Officer (Lifetime)

• Lifetime’s “Miora” clinics offer medication and support alongside traditional gym programs.

• Client retention is high (>95%), signaling satisfaction with integrated medication & lifestyle changes.

• Laval frames responsible GLP1 use as empowering for those who previously struggled:

  • “There’s people that exercise, they diet, they do everything that they think is right and they don’t lose a pound, and that’s because their metabolism is already somewhat broken.” (12:57)

• Responds to skepticism from the fitness world:

  • “Utilizing [GLP1s] in a way that empowers people to make change is...an absolute must in our world today.” (14:31)

• Business implication: Premium memberships ($150–$400/month) plus program and medication fees; current cost restricts access but may change with generics.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Gabe Zickerman, on food industry evolution:
  “If GLP1 support is not core to your business plan, you know, I don’t know what your business plan is.” (02:10)

• Sandra Barboso, on the cost-benefit of treatment:
  “They’re expensive today, but not treating obesity is far costlier.” (16:34)

• Jim Laval, on clinical frustration:
  “I think it more becomes a problem with people that criticize it is...why are you so afraid to empower people to make a change?” (14:31)

---

Important Segment Timestamps

• 01:26 – Introduction of GLP1 medicines & market context
• 03:33 – Interview with Gabe Zickerman, food industry angle
• 05:32 – Changing ingredients and product formulations
• 09:25 – Obesity as an economic issue (Sandra Barboso)
• 11:42 – Consumer spending shifts, impact on supermarkets and books
• 12:57 – Interview with Jim Laval, GLP1 in fitness sector
• 16:34 – Future affordability, generics on the horizon
• 18:33 – Projections: $150B global GLP1 market by 2035

---

Conclusion

Weight-loss jabs are reshaping everything from how global food giants design product lines to what consumers spend at grocery stores and gyms. While cost and access remain current obstacles, market shifts and patent expirations are poised to democratize these medicines. The food and fitness industries are pivoting quickly, and a vast new economy is emerging—one where GLP1-friendly options and holistic health approaches are fast becoming not just a trend, but a business necessity.

---

Transcript

[BBC Podcast Advertiser]

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. The best B2B marketing gets wasted on the wrong people. So when you want to reach the right professionals, use LinkedIn ads. LinkedIn has grown to a network of over 1 billion professionals, including 130 million decision makers. And that's where it stands apart from other ad buyers. You can target your buyers by job title, industry, company role, seniority, skills, company revenue. So you can stop wasting budget on the wrong audience. It's why LinkedIn Ads generates the highest B2B return on ad spend of major ad networks. Spend $250 on your first campaign on LinkedIn Ads and get $250 credit for the next one. Just go to LinkedIn.com Broadcast. That's LinkedIn.com Broadcast. Terms and conditions apply. This message comes from Schwab at Schwab. How you invest is your choice, not theirs. That's why when it comes to managing your wealth, Schwab gives you more choices. You can invest and trade on your own. Plus get advice and more comprehensive wealth solutions to help meet your unique needs. With award winning service, low costs and transparent advice, you can manage your wealth your way at Schwab. Visit schwab.com to learn more.

[Hannah Mullane]

Hello and welcome to Business Daily. I'm Hannah Mullane. In the past two programs, we've looked at the medicines that have turned the weight loss industry on its head.

[Jim Laval]

Drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro have revolutionized weight loss.

[Gabe Zickerman]

Now, weight loss jabs have become more common in the last few years, with more and more people using them.

[Grainger Advertiser]

A recent survey showed one in eight Americans have tried medications like Ozempic and Wegovy to treat everything from diabetes to weight loss and other conditions.

[Hannah Mullane]

Yep. Obesity drugs, also known as GLP1s originally developed to treat diabetes. Now we know they help people lose a lot of weight very quickly, creating a surge in demand by a much wider demographic. On today's third and final programme in our series, I'm looking at the businesses that have grown out of this boom. From food manufacturers to gyms. We'll speak to those that are capitalising on a change in consumer habits.

[Gabe Zickerman]

For anybody considering entering the food business today, if GLP1 support is not core to your business plan, you know, I don't know what your business plan is.

[Hannah Mullane]

These medicines are expensive, but they may soon become cheaper as generic versions enter the market. So what could this mean for the global weight loss industry? That's all coming up on this episode of Business Daily. Hi, my name's Tammy. I'VE been on a Manjario journey now for over a year. I've lost over 32% of my body weight.

[Gabe Zickerman]

I've been on Ozempic for just about a year.

[Hannah Mullane]

My first dose of Wegovy, I'm at maintenance, 50 pound down.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Wegovy, Ozempic, Mounjaro. These are all names you may have heard in the last few years. All variations of weight loss injections that millions of people around the world are using to lose weight. They all contain a medicine that mimics a natural gut hormone to help control blood sugar and promote weight loss by slowing digestion and reducing appetite. People typically start losing weight within a few weeks. It's no wonder then that the drugs have captivated the public since they were approved by regulators. With millions of people now using these medicines around the world, what could this mean for the food industry? We're starting the program in an ice cream factory, which might seem odd considering we're talking about weight loss. Gabe Zickerman founded Two Scoops, based in Los Angeles, and they make products specifically targeting people taking weight loss medication.

[Gabe Zickerman]

Our sort of mission is to, you know, make dessert that's better for you, but also doesn't taste like some kind of science experiment. That's just pure sadness. And, and the goal here is to make that possible for people who are taking GLP1s or just looking to have a better lifestyle.

[Hannah Mullane]

So talk me through some of the products that you guys sell. What are your top sellers?

[Gabe Zickerman]

Yeah, so our number one flavor is Rocky Road, which is actually the most popular ice cream flavor in the western United States, as it turns out. And that's a chocolate ice cream with brownies and nuts and also marshmallow fluff. And in order to accomplish this kind of high inclusion ice cream. So this is ice cream with a lot of stuff in it, rather than just sort of plain ice cream. We had to sort of reinvent all the things that go into it, because all of those things generally kind of work against a really good, delicious, you know, better for you ice cream. So as an example, we have the only zero sugar, high protein marshmallow that you can get, you know, in any product, let alone in an ice cream. So that sort of took a lot of time to perfect.

[Hannah Mullane]

So how do you make these products GLP1 friendly then? What is it about them that is good for people that are on these drugs?

[Gabe Zickerman]

And so, as a general rule, GLP1 users need to eat much more protein than they think they should, control the total amount of sugar that they're eating. Not to counteract the effects of those GLP1 drugs. And they can consume certain natural foods which are actually GLP1 boosting or enhancing. And so two spoons ice cream kind of hits all three of those. It's got 30 grams of protein in what we call a pint container, which is about 14 ounces. It's got no added sugar, so it's got a very low carb profile. And the primary sweetener, sweetener is a natural sugar called allulose, which is a non glycemic sweetener that's been shown in research to actually help improve the secretion of GLP1. So it acts as kind of a helpful sort of boosting of the body's natural GLP1 production. And you know, when taken with one of these medicines could be beneficial.

[Hannah Mullane]

So with that in mind, do you think we're going to see sort of the snack industry change with this kind of cultural shift we're seeing in the way people eat?

[Gabe Zickerman]

My gosh, GLP1s are going to change absolutely everything about the food business. Ultimately, GLP1s will change how people eat what they eat and the quantity that they eat. With the biggest impact being there's going to be even more demand for protein supplementation. There's going to be even more demand for sugar reduction, if not sugar elimination. And there's going to be demand for, you know, kind of different portion sizing and better quality foods that in those kinds of portion sizing.

[Hannah Mullane]

And does that mean higher prices as well, would you say?

[Gabe Zickerman]

I think on a price per gram basis, there's no question that prices are going to go up. I mean, protein costs money. So if you're adding protein to products, it's going to cost more money. Let me just give you an example, okay? As a GLP1 user who weighs about 225 pounds, I am supposed to eat over 100 grams of protein per day just to maintain my muscle mass. 100 grams of protein is more than four chicken breasts, which is a ton of chicken to eat in one day. I'm not going to get the protein that I need to maintain my muscle mass, let alone grow my muscle mass while on a GLP1. If I don't supplement that protein, there's simply no way for me to accomplish that goal any other way. So I need protein fortified foods. I need them probably at every meal so that I'm not, you know, making chicken shakes or something like that just to keep things working, you know, that's an essential part of what I think has to happen in the food business that will cost money.

[Hannah Mullane]

We talk about sort of diet trends a lot and things kind of popping into the market and having a bit of a moment, do you think that this is more than that? Because your whole business is centered around this? Right?

[Gabe Zickerman]

You know, we are not looking to make a regular ice cream. Our business is serving this market and this emerging market. And people always ask whether or not, you know, GLP1 use or protein are a fad. And what I will say is I can't predict what will happen over the next 20 years. But I'll tell you as a GLP1 user, I don't care about going off this medicine. This medicine works. This medicine has changed my life. And while there may be some moral argument that people make about wanting to get off the meds at some point, and certainly many people convince themselves that it's okay to take it because they will someday come off the medicine, I'm going to be the first person to tell you I don't care. As long as this continues to work and it doesn't cause me, you know, any negative side effects, why would I want to stop taking it? And so I'm not alone. I think that, you know, millions of other people in the developed world and in the developing world would benefit from taking these medicines. I, I think in that context, I feel fairly confident that over the expected lifetime of, of two spoons and our business that there'll be sufficient demand for GLP1 friendly desserts and high protein desserts to make a, you know, successful opportunity. Not just for us, by the way, but for anybody considering entering the food business today. If, if GLP1 support is not core to your business plan, you know, I don't know what your business plan is.

[Hannah Mullane]

Gabe's business is one example of a company leaning into weight loss drug friendly food products. And there are many others. Nestle has launched a product line called Vital Pursuit, offering frozen pizza, pasta and sandwiches that it builds as a companion for GLP1 weight loss medication. Conagra Brands has added a label to many of the company's healthy choice offerings that indicate that they're GLP1 friendly. And Danone, the world's largest yogurt maker, has said it's working on some products for people taking weight loss drugs too. All of this responding to an increasing problem, obesity. Sandra Barboso is a health economist at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation.

[Sandra Barboso]

So obesity is not just a health problem, it's an economic one too. For example, in the United states, more than 42% of adults are currently obese. So that's more than 140 million people. That adds up to about $173 billion in health care costs each year. And it also drags down GDP by more than 4% compared to if you had a healthier workforce. This is not limited to the us. This is a global story. For example, the World Obesity Federation estimates that almost 40% of the world's population is overweight or obese right now. And the steepest increases are being seen in lower income countries. By 2035, that's projected to rise to more than 50. And the cost of that globally will exceed about $4 trillion a year, which is about 3% of global GDP. So these costs, they don't just come from treating obesity and related illnesses like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, but also from lost productivity because people who are obese take more sick days, have reduced performance at work, and they also leave the workforce earlier than otherwise they might.

[Hannah Mullane]

You're listening to Business Daily on the BBC World Service.

[Grainger Advertiser]

If you're the purchasing manager at a manufacturing plant, you know having a trusted partner makes all the difference. That's why, hands down, you count on Grainger for auto reordering. With on time restocks, your team will have the cut resistant gloves they need at the start of their shift and you can end your day knowing they've got safety well in hand. Call 1-800-granger. Click granger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done.

This is the story of the 1. As an H VAC technician, he and his digital multimeter are in high demand. So when a noisy office H Vac turns out to be a failing blower motor, he doesn't break a sweat. With Grainger's easy to use website and product information, he selects the product he needs to keep everything humming right along. Call 1-800-GRAINGER clickranger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done.

[Hannah Mullane]

I'm Hannah Mullane and today we're looking at the increasing popularity of weight loss injections and what this means for business. Let's take a look at how behaviour might change when people start taking this medicine and what that might mean for their spending habits. Research by Global banking giant JP Morgan suggests that in the first six months of taking this medicine, on average, people spend 17% less in the supermarket. Doug McMillan, the boss of Walmart, the biggest supermarket chain in the us, said that the company had observed customers buying less, especially products with high calories. Demand for diet Books is also falling. Since June 2021, when the first weight loss drugs were approved in America, health and fitness book sales there was have dropped by 15%, according to US research firm Sakana. And what about exercise? You might assume if you're losing weight with medicine, then there's no need for the gym. In fact, manufacturers of these medications say it's important to exercise whilst taking them. And as people lose weight, there's evidence to suggest that they go to the gym more, spending more of their disposable income on exercise. So that's where we're off to next, the gym.

[Jim Laval]

There's people that exercise, they diet, they do everything that they think is right and they don't lose a pound, and that's because their metabolism is already somewhat broken.

[Hannah Mullane]

Jim Laval is the chief science officer at Lifetime, a chain of health clubs in the US and Canada. They've started running clinics alongside their health clubs to offer weight loss medication and support to clients. It's called the Miora program.

[Jim Laval]

We start with smaller dosing to somewhat, I would say, coach the individual's metabolism back into functioning. We want you to not be dependent on these drugs forever. We want you to learn exercise, diet, how to take care of your health. And at the same time, it was a natural evolution to think about how to use this category of drugs responsibly to serve that consumer, that Lifetime member, better.

[Narrator/Reporter]

So how is adding these clinics into the health club translated into business?

[Jim Laval]

Well, it's early, but we're going to be opening five more Miora centers over the next four to six months. So that'll be a total of seven. Very few people are dropping off the program. We're in excess of 95%. I think it's 97% retention. So people are happy with the program, they're happy with the personalized care.

[Narrator/Reporter]

There's been a lot of pushback from the fitness world when it comes to using these medications rather than more traditional methods of losing weight. How do you respond to those that say a fitness brand shouldn't be encouraging the use of these injections?

[Jim Laval]

You know, you look at the public outcry, the shortages that occurred in the U.S. anyway, it clearly showed that people were desperate for weight loss. One was because they were trying, like being in clinical practice, working on programs and teaching dogs. People would say this all the time. I'm just so frustrated of eating this food, trying to take this supplement, trying this weight loss drug, you know, exercising, getting up for a boot camp and not getting anywhere. And so I, I think that if you're not leaning in to the youth, the irresponsible use of GLP1s. I'm not talking about the Facebook groups are buying stuff online and they don't know where they're getting it and they're, they're wondering how much they should take. I think that's dangerous. Utilizing it in a way that empowers people to make change is, I think it's an absolute must in our world today. In the end, we should all be interested in how we serve our member or customer or patient. And if they're frustrated because everything they've tried and they've done everything you said and not a pound has come off and this category of medications gives them that bridge to activating their metabolism to get them feeling empowered and not feeling hopeless and not feeling defeated. I think it more becomes a problem with people that criticize it is to why are you so afraid to empower people to make a change?

[Hannah Mullane]

Now Lifetime is a premium service. The membership will set you back anything between $150 to close to $400 a month depending on where you're based. And the Miora program is an extra cost. And weight loss jabs themselves aren't cheap. Most patients around the world need to bear the cost themselves. Here's Sandra Barboso again, health economist at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation.

[Sandra Barboso]

A month's supply of Ozempic, for instance, lists at about $1,000 in the US and even with insurance, co pays can still run about $300 a month. So it's out of reach for many people who could benefit from it. There's, there's a few, few factors to keep in mind here. So these prices first of all reflect the costly, lengthy and risky process of developing medicines. It takes billions of dollars and many years on drug discovery, clinical trials, regulatory review and manufacturing. But competition is on the horizon. So at the moment there's more than 70 anti obesity drugs that are in clinical trials. And as patents on today's GLP1 drugs are set to expire in the upcoming years, generics and biosimilars are going to bring costs down. And we've seen this before. So for example, when Gilead launched Sovaldi, which is the first cure for hepatitis C back in 2013, it was originally priced at $84,000 with net prices after rebates around $45,000. But within five years, competition cut that by half to around $24,000. And within a decade, a cure that didn't exist before will be available at generic prices. And So I think the trajectory is similar for GLP1s. They're expensive today, but not treating obesity is far costlier. Doctors are also pointing out that these drugs can often replace a whole list of medicines that people take for obesity related conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. And so the longer that treatment is delayed, the more we all pay in medical bills, productivity, and also greater strain on other sectors of the economy.

[Hannah Mullane]

And I guess that means that they will become a more accessible price for countries around the world as well. You talked about obesity rates rising in developing countries where people don't have so much money to spend.

[Sandra Barboso]

Yeah. So as generics start entering the market, the costs should drop. Usually when generics enter, it drops of about 80% from the original list price. And that should be. That should help with accessibility around the world.

[Hannah Mullane]

Weight loss injections might be expensive now, but this hasn't stopped millions of people around the world from taking them, which has led to controversy around potential health risks and an emerging black market for the medicines. As Sandra said, this could soon start to change as other versions of the medication hit the market. And this could happen sooner than you think. Novo Nordisk's patent for semiglutide used to make Wegovy anazempic is due to expire in several countries this year, including India and China, which will make way for cheaper versions of the drugs. Investment bank Morgan Stanley predicts the weight loss jab industry could be worth $150 billion by 2035. And with that kind of growth comes opportunity. So we're likely to see more businesses adapt and the creation of new companies offering products to support those choosing to take this medication. That's all from this episode of Business Daily, produced and presented by me, Hannah Mullane. If you want to hear more from our weight loss drug series, just search for Business Daily. Wherever you get your podcasts.