Nestle looks to develop new products to serve users of weight-loss drugs. By Reuters Last Updated: Aug 17, 2026, 11:45:00 AM IST Nestle is developing specialized products for GLP-1 weight-loss drug users. Artificial intelligence aids in analyzing research and identifying nutrient combinations. These new offerings aim to address side effects like muscle loss and facial fat. The company is also exploring ingredients to manage post-treatment appetite increases. This strategic move transforms a potential threat into a significant business opportunity. Switzerland: Nestle is seeking to turn the rise of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs from a threat into a business opportunity, using artificial intelligence and nutritional science to develop products aimed at millions of consumers taking medicines such as Ozempic and Wegovy. The rapid adoption of drugs made by Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly has fuelled investor concerns that appetite-suppressing medicines could permanently reduce demand for packaged foods, snacks and beverages. You May Like Nestle believes the drugs are also creating a new market for products designed to address the side effects of rapid weight loss. Chief Technology Officer Stefan Palzer told Reuters that Nestle was using AI and other technology to analyse clinical research, identify nutrient combinations and develop products tailored to GLP-1 users. "We are well positioned with the portfolio. It's a huge opportunity for our company," he said. Presentation materials shown to Reuters detailed side effects associated with rapid weight loss, including muscle loss and the loss of facial fat often referred to as "Ozempic face", and outlined areas where Nestle believes its products can help address them. The GLP-1 market is dominated by Eli Lilly's Mounjaro and Zepbound and Novo Nordisk's Wegovy and Ozempic. Around 16 million Americans are taking GLP-1 medicines, according to Boston Consulting Group, a figure expected to rise sharply by the end of the decade. Nestle's response has been to develop products tailored to the needs of weight-loss drug users while using AI to accelerate research, product development and consumer analysis. TACKLING SIDE EFFECTS Palzer said Nestle's scientists have been studying the consequences of rapid weight loss and developing products designed to help consumers manage them. The company is using AI tools to process large volumes of clinical research and identify combinations of nutrients that may help support muscle health, hydration and nutritional intake. Nestle has begun adding collagen protein to products under its Vital Proteins brand to address concerns around skin, hair and nail health linked to rapid weight loss. "A big part of weight loss is that people lose lean muscle mass," Palzer said. "We found a combination of two micronutrients which we industrialized that stimulate the growth of muscle tissue. On one hand you provide protein, on the other hand you stimulate the muscle tissue to grow back faster." Palzer said Nestle had also patented combinations of proprietary ingredients designed to reduce appetite among consumers who often experience increased hunger after discontinuing GLP-1 treatments. The company has already launched products aimed at GLP-1 users. Nestle's U.S. business created Boost Advanced Nutrition Shake, marketed as containing 35 grams of protein to support muscle health during weight loss. In Asia and Australia, Nestle has introduced a higher-protein version of its Milo malt drink called Milo PRO High Protein. Rival ice cream makers are also wrestling with the same issues, turning to higher-protein products, smaller portions and simpler ingredient lists. AI RECIPE BOOK AI is playing a growing role throughout that process. Nestle has developed internal systems to analyse scientific literature, simulate consumer behaviour, identify emerging trends and help product developers navigate a database of roughly 120,000 recipes. Among those tools is an internal platform called Food Genie, which Palzer said helps scientists and product developers predict how recipes might perform and identify opportunities for reformulation. "You can imagine if you're a small company you have only a thousand recipes. It's very difficult to model and predict recipes using AI," he said. "AI needs data." Nestle is also testing AI-driven consumer simulations designed to predict how shoppers will respond to new products and health claims before they reach shelves. "You see noise around certain topics and then you can conclude whether that's a lasting trend or not," Palzer said. "Increasingly AI will get into this field." NOT EVERYONE IS CONVINCED Some nutrition experts question whether specialised products offer significant advantages over conventional foods. "It's quite sad that we turn to new products all the time that are more expensive than whole, fresh food that also contain the same protein and nutrients," said Amanda Avery, associate professor in nutrition and dietetics at the University of Nottingham in central England. She noted that meat, fish, eggs, dairy products, beans, nuts and pulses remain relatively inexpensive sources of protein and nutrients. Still, Avery said products specifically marketed to GLP-1 users were likely to find buyers. "Sadly, we are quite influenced by marketing," she said. "Nestle will have done their research."

Side effects from weight loss injections: Ozempic causes muscle loss - Nestlé sells the remedy thanks to AI. Weight loss injections are booming, but rapid weight loss has its downsides. Nestlé analyzes clinical studies with AI and develops patented nutrient combinations against them. Published today at 5:03 PM Nestlé uses artificial intelligence to develop products for Ozempic users. AI systems analyze clinical studies to counteract muscle loss during weight loss. The first specialty products such as the shake "Boost Advanced Nutrition" are already available. Nutrition experts doubt that these products offer added value compared to fresh foods. Nestlé is increasingly relying on artificial intelligence to develop special products for consumers of GLP-1 weight loss medications such as Ozempic or Wegovy. The rapid spread of these appetite-suppressing preparations had raised concerns among investors that demand for packaged foods could permanently decline, as the Reuters news agency reports. The food group, however, sees the development as an opportunity to open up new market segments and address the side effects of rapid weight loss. According to the Boston Consulting Group, around 16 million people in the US currently take GLP-1 medications; a significant increase is expected by the end of the decade. To counteract the physical consequences of rapid weight loss such as muscle loss or skin changes, Nestlé uses AI systems to analyze clinical studies. Nestlé's technology chief: database with around 120,000 recipes. As Chief Technology Officer Stefan Palzer explained to Reuters, the technology processes large amounts of data to identify effective micronutrient and protein combinations. The company has thus developed patented ingredient combinations that, according to Nestlé, are intended to stimulate muscle tissue and reduce cravings after stopping the medication. According to Palzer, in-house platforms such as "Food Genie" access a database of around 120,000 recipes to forecast formulation performance and market trends. The first specialty products have already been launched in various markets. In the US, the subsidiary distributes the shake "Boost Advanced Nutrition", while in Asia and Australia a protein-enriched variant of the malt drink Milo has been introduced. In addition, the brand Vital Proteins is expanding its range to include collagen proteins for skin, hair, and nails. Nutrition experts doubt added value in the fight against muscle loss compared to fresh foods. The strategy is met with skepticism among experts. Nutrition professionals doubt that such specialty products offer real added value compared to conventional foods. Amanda Avery, lecturer in nutrition and dietetics at the University of Nottingham, emphasizes that fresh foods such as meat, fish, eggs, dairy products, legumes, and nuts contain the same proteins and nutrients - and usually at lower prices. Nevertheless, the expert acknowledges that due to strong marketing and corresponding demand, a market exists for these processed nutrient products. Business today Get the most important news from the business world as well as the best background information and analyses. More newsletters Urs Nagel has been site manager and news journalist at the Tamedia editorial team since 2018. More info

Nestle looks to develop new products to serve users of weight-loss drugs. Updated: August 17, 2026 at 7:45a.m. EDT Published: August 17, 2026 at 6:22a.m. EDT VEVEY, Switzerland - Nestle is seeking to turn the rise of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs from a threat into a business opportunity, using artificial intelligence and nutritional science to develop products aimed at millions of consumers taking medicines such as Ozempic and Wegovy. The rapid adoption of drugs made by Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly has fuelled investor concerns that appetite-suppressing medicines could permanently reduce demand for packaged foods, snacks and beverages. Nestle believes the drugs are also creating a new market for products designed to address the side effects of rapid weight loss. Chief Technology Officer Stefan Palzer told Reuters that Nestle was using AI and other technology to analyze clinical research, identify nutrient combinations and develop products tailored to GLP-1 users. "We are well positioned with the portfolio. It's a huge opportunity for our company," he said. Presentation materials shown to Reuters detailed side effects associated with rapid weight loss, including muscle loss and the loss of facial fat often referred to as "Ozempic face," and outlined areas where Nestle believes its products can help address them. The GLP-1 market is dominated by Eli Lilly's Mounjaro and Zepbound and Novo Nordisk's Wegovy and Ozempic. Around 16 million Americans are taking GLP-1 medicines, according to Boston Consulting Group, a figure expected to rise sharply by the end of the decade. Nestle's response has been to develop products tailored to the needs of weight-loss drug users while using AI to accelerate research, product development and consumer analysis. Tackling side effects. Palzer said Nestle's scientists have been studying the consequences of rapid weight loss and developing products designed to help consumers manage them. The company is using AI tools to process large volumes of clinical research and identify combinations of nutrients that may help support muscle health, hydration and nutritional intake. Nestle has begun adding collagen protein to products under its Vital Proteins brand to address concerns around skin, hair and nail health linked to rapid weight loss. "A big part of weight loss is that people lose lean muscle mass," Palzer said. "We found a combination of two micronutrients which we industrialized that stimulate the growth of muscle tissue. On one hand you provide protein, on the other hand you stimulate the muscle tissue to grow back faster." Palzer said Nestle had also patented combinations of proprietary ingredients designed to reduce appetite among consumers who often experience increased hunger after discontinuing GLP-1 treatments. The company has already launched products aimed at GLP-1 users. Nestle's U.S. business created Boost Advanced Nutrition Shake, marketed as containing 35 grams of protein to support muscle health during weight loss. In Asia and Australia, Nestle has introduced a higher-protein version of its Milo malt drink called Milo PRO High Protein. Rival ice cream makers are also wrestling with the same issues, turning to higher-protein products, smaller portions and simpler ingredient lists. AI recipe book. AI is playing a growing role throughout that process. Nestle has developed internal systems to analyze scientific literature, simulate consumer behavior, identify emerging trends and help product developers navigate a database of roughly 120,000 recipes. Among those tools is an internal platform called Food Genie, which Palzer said helps scientists and product developers predict how recipes might perform and identify opportunities for reformulation. "You can imagine if you're a small company you have only a thousand recipes. It's very difficult to model and predict recipes using AI," he said. "AI needs data." Nestle is also testing AI-driven consumer simulations designed to predict how shoppers will respond to new products and health claims before they reach shelves. "You see noise around certain topics and then you can conclude whether that's a lasting trend or not," Palzer said. "Increasingly AI will get into this field." Not everyone is convinced. Some nutrition experts question whether specialized products offer significant advantages over conventional foods. "It's quite sad that we turn to new products all the time that are more expensive than whole, fresh food that also contain the same protein and nutrients," said Amanda Avery, associate professor in nutrition and dietetics at the University of Nottingham in central England. She noted that meat, fish, eggs, dairy products, beans, nuts and pulses remain relatively inexpensive sources of protein and nutrients. Still, Avery said products specifically marketed to GLP-1 users were likely to find buyers. "Sadly, we are quite influenced by marketing," she said. "Nestle will have done their research." Reporting by Richa Naidu; Editing by Adam Jourdan, Matt Scuffham and Keith Weir, Reuters