Just like the popular weight-loss drugs Ozempic, Wegovy, and other GLP-1 inhibitors, the idea of using a concentrated, low-calorie whey-protein solution before meals was first pitched as a diabetes treatment.
Now, Nestlé wants to bring it into the mainstream as a grocery store supplement available to U.S. consumers.
The world’s biggest packaged food company, Nestlé has begun rolling out Boost Pre-Meal Hunger Support, a 45-calorie whey solution that helps the body produce its own GLP-1 to reduce appetite and promote weight loss – albeit at a much slower rate than the injectables produced by major drug companies.
“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,” Nestle chief technology officer Stefan Palzer told Reuters.
The hormone GLP-1 – whether produced by the body or a synthetic injected into the body – increases insulin production and lowers blood sugar. It creates a feeling of fullness, so an individual eats less and loses weight.
“Essentially, all food triggers a GLP-1 response. Some types of food will be more effective than others, and that’s where the shakes might work well,” Dr. Daniel Atkinson, clinical lead at Treated.com, told The Food Institute. “They’re low-calorie, and high in protein.
“Increasing your protein intake is often recommended for weight loss. It can help balance your blood sugar and keep you feeling fuller for longer. This means you’re less likely to snack. But equally, eating any kind of protein before a meal could have this effect.”
The protein shots are Nestle’s latest entry into the weight-loss industry – expected to grow to more than $150 billion by the end of the decade.
Earlier this year, the company rolled out a line of frozen meals aimed at people on costly GLP-1 inhibitors.
“Nestlé is positioning this product as a more natural and cost-effective alternative to GLP-1 medications as they are claiming that drinking one pre-meal can reduce appetite,” said Tami Smith, founder of Fit Healthy Macros. “This is true from the standpoint that you would be ingesting something right before a meal that contains protein, which is the most satiating macronutrient, so it will naturally induce feelings of fullness, which could lead you to consume less during your meal.”
But whether these products provide an effective strategy is a separate question.
“Unfortunately, I think there will be a lot of products marketed to those seeking GLP-1s but can’t afford them that may not work at all,” Smith said.
Christine Byrne, owner of Ruby Oak Nutrition in Raleigh, North Carolina, said there’s nothing magical about the protein shots, and users should be aware they’re nowhere near as effective as the likes of Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound.
“We’re seeing lots of foods being touted as ‘nature’s Ozempic’ or ‘natural GLP-1s,’” Byrnes said.
“It makes sense that marketers and influencers are jumping on the bandwagon, given how much attention the weight-loss drugs are getting,” she added.
“The truth is, GLP-1 medications are powerful drugs, and no food item or diet will have the same impact on your body.”
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