Nestle launches protein shots for US weight-loss drug users
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Nestle is launching protein shots in the United States which it says help suppress appetite for people looking to shed pounds, the latest effort by the world’s biggest packaged food maker to tap the booming market for weight-loss products.
The manufacturer of Kit Kat chocolate bars and Nesquik shakes says its drink sparks a natural reaction in the body which is similar to, but far less powerful than, highly in-demand drugs for weight loss like Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Eli Lilly’s Zepbound.
The weekly weight-loss injections mimic an intestinal hormone called GLP-1 and curb people’s appetite, promoting a feeling of fullness.
The shake, called Boost Pre-Meal Hunger Support, is to be consumed up to 30 minutes before a meal and is aimed at people taking GLP-1 drugs or other weight-loss medications. The roll-out started last month.
“You get an increase in natural GLP-1 which helps in controlling the feeling of hunger. So this dose has a significant effect on satiety,” Stefan Palzer, chief technology officer at Nestle, told Reuters.
The shots, sold for US$10.99 for a pack of four on Amazon.com and at some CVS stores, contain 10 grams of whey protein, 45 calories, 1 gram of sugar, and are fat-free. They are advertised as promoting a “Natural GLP-1 response to a meal.”
Palzer said they could also help people maintain their reduced weight.
Lora Heisler, chair in human nutrition and director of research at the Rowett Institute, said it was unclear if the shot could make a real long-term difference for people trying to lose weight.
“I believe that this protein shot can help release a bit more GLP-1, but you can also possibly have a similar sort of release with a glass of milk,” she said.
“I believe that this protein shot can help release a bit more GLP-1, but you can also possibly have a similar sort of release with a glass of milk,”
Earlier this year, Nestle started selling a new, $5 line of frozen pizzas and protein-enriched pastas in the United States designed for people taking weight-loss drugs.
Analysts estimate the obesity drug market could be worth as much as $150 billion per year globally within a decade.
When US retail giant Walmart said last year it saw a slight pullback in food consumption when people took the medication, it sparked a selloff in shares of companies including Nestle.
The shot, whose formula Nestle has patented, is not intended to replace weight loss drugs and is less powerful than them, Palzer said.
Nestle says the product is based on a mix of peptides which are digested quickly, giving the consumer an amino acid spike that then controls hunger.
Whey protein micro-gels help people digest more slowly, meaning they interact much longer with receptors in the intestine that are releasing the GLP-1 hormone.
In 2021, Nestle said 26 people with type-2 diabetes participated in a randomised study, consuming either a low-dose whey protein microgel or a placebo of water, followed by a meal designed to produce an adequate spike in glucose.
One week into the study, participants who had been taking the whey protein were given the placebo, and those who had been taking the placebo were given the whey protein.
Results showed that during the two hours after the meal, glucose levels were reduced by 22 percent in the whey-protein group compared with the placebo group. There was also a positive effect on the hormone GLP-1.
Questions & Answers
Q.What is the primary purpose of Nestle's new protein shot for consumers?
What is the primary purpose of Nestle's new protein shot for consumers?
The shot is designed to help suppress appetite for people looking to shed pounds and is aimed at individuals already taking GLP-1 drugs or other weight-loss medications. It helps control feelings of hunger before a meal.
Q.How does the protein shot claim to work within the body?
How does the protein shot claim to work within the body?
Nestle states the product promotes a natural GLP-1 response, similar to weight-loss drugs but less powerful. It uses a mix of peptides and whey protein micro-gels to create an amino acid spike and interact with intestinal receptors.
Q.What are the nutritional details and cost of the Boost Pre-Meal Hunger Support shots?
What are the nutritional details and cost of the Boost Pre-Meal Hunger Support shots?
A pack of four shots costs US$10.99. Each shot contains 10 grams of whey protein, 45 calories, 1 gram of sugar, and is fat-free. They are sold on Amazon.com and at some CVS stores.
Q.Has any external expert commented on the potential effectiveness of the protein shot?
Has any external expert commented on the potential effectiveness of the protein shot?
Lora Heisler, director of research at the Rowett Institute, stated it's unclear if the shot can make a real long-term difference. She suggested a glass of milk might offer a similar GLP-1 release.
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