Weight Watchers gets into the med-based weight mgmt business

[Velar Fricative]

I don't have any strong opinions about the use of medication like Ozempic for weight loss and maintenance, but I'm more fascinated by the history of WW and how they really do seem to adapt to new societal realities relatively quickly. Like, they've been deemed a dying brand every so often and then they rise from the ashes (presumably with this, but also with Oprah, program changes, etc.).

www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/weightwatchers-buys-telehealth-platform-sequence-ozempic-wegovy-rcna73753

WeightWatchers has taken a major step into the worlds of telehealth and medication-based obesity treatment, announcing its acquisition of the digital health company Sequence.



Sequence, which describes itself as a "weight loss program," offers its monthly subscribers telehealth consultations with clinicians, fitness coaching, access to dietitians and, in some cases, prescriptions for drugs, including the popular diabetes and obesity medications Ozempic and Wegovy.



With Sequence in the fold, WeightWatchers will be able to expand beyond traditional diet and behavior-based regimens for weight loss.



In revealing the $132 million purchase Monday, the company's leaders said they plan to tailor its "nutrition and behavior-change" programs to work in concert with the dispensing of medication.



Gary Foster, WeightWatchers' chief scientific officer, said in a statement that the company intends to "provide the support needed to help people build livable healthy habits for the long term and manage the dietary-induced side effects often felt while taking chronic weight management medications."

[jinkies]

I just saw a commercial for this. I'm honestly not surprised-- it's kind of natural fit for them. It also makes sense to embrace what could be "competition" for them rather than fight against it.

Tangentially related, I just noticed last night that Amazon is now offering healthcare (Amazon Clinic and OneMedical). Has this been around a while? I usually use the Amazon app so I hadn't looked closely at the navigation in a while. I just used my desktop last night and was surprised that the first two items in the nav were healthcare related.

[wanderingback]

Mar 8, 2023 10:46:48 GMT -5 jinkies said:

I just saw a commercial for this. I'm honestly not surprised-- it's kind of natural fit for them. It also makes sense to embrace what could be "competition" for them rather than fight against it.

Tangentially related, I just noticed last night that Amazon is now offering healthcare (Amazon Clinic and OneMedical). Has this been around a while? I usually use the Amazon app so I hadn't looked closely at the navigation in a while. I just used my desktop last night and was surprised that the first two items in the nav were healthcare related.

I heard talks of Amazon buying One Medical last year. I think it became official recently. I don’t use Amazon but just had read articles about it so not sure about what it looks like on the app/website.

[suburbanzookeeper]

Mar 8, 2023 10:46:48 GMT -5 jinkies said:

Tangentially related, I just noticed last night that Amazon is now offering healthcare (Amazon Clinic and OneMedical). Has this been around a while? I usually use the Amazon app so I hadn't looked closely at the navigation in a while. I just used my desktop last night and was surprised that the first two items in the nav were healthcare related.

I heard about it a few weeks ago... seems like a solid jump from Pillpack/Amazon Pharmacy to get into healthcare. The telehealth game hasn't really slowed down since March 2020 and it makes sense that more want in on the competition.