WeightWatchers and Noom Embrace Ozempic-like Miracle Drugs, Ending the Era of Dieting

WeightWatchers and Noom, two prominent dieting companies, are shifting their focus towards selling GLP-1 medications, such as Ozempic and Wegovy, which have been proven to be more effective in weight loss compared to traditional diet and exercise methods. These medications have revolutionized the weight-loss industry, highlighting the ineffectiveness of many for-profit dieting products. WeightWatchers acquired telehealth platform Sequence to provide access to GLP-1 prescriptions, while Noom launched its Noom Med platform for subscribers to seek prescriptions from online doctors. The move comes as the dieting industry faces an existential crisis and increasing competition from these new medications. However, concerns about the long-term side effects and the potential normalization of these drugs by household dieting brands have been raised.