Oprah’s Weight Watchers is Ozempic-as-a-platform

 WW International (WW), formerly known as WeightWatchers, is jumping on the bandwagon of one of the biggest stories of the year — weight-loss drugs.

On Monday, the 60-year-old company announced the launch of the WeightWatchers GLP-1 Program, which offers behavioral support for those on weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy.

"This new GLP-1 Program is to help consumers who are on GLP-1 medications manage the unique behavioral needs they face while managing life on medications," a spokesperson told Yahoo Finance over email.

The program is intended to ensure consumers on GLP-1 drugs have "adequate nutrition — specifically protein and nutrient-dense foods, as well as hydration," the release stated. It includes daily nutritional and activity targets; a list of GLP-1 go-to foods and recipes; and trackers for weight, activity, and food, among other tools.

The announcement came a day after Oprah Winfrey, a WW International board member since 2015, revealed she is using weight-loss drugs. Winfrey, who has an $8.29 million stake in the company (based on Wednesday's close), did not specify which weight-loss medication she is on.

WeightWatchers board member Oprah Winfrey, pictured here on Dec. 11, 2023, revealed she is using weight-loss drugs. (Arturo Holmes/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images) (Arturo Holmes via Getty Images)

The media mogul told People magazine that she changed her lifestyle recently by eating her last meal at 4 p.m., drinking a gallon of water a day, and using the WeightWatchers principle of counting points while on the drug.

At first, she said, she had an "awareness of [weight-loss] medications" but felt like she had to "prove" that she "had the willpower" to lose weight.

"I now no longer feel that way," Winfrey continued. She said that she is "absolutely done with shaming from other people" and that "medically approved prescription for managing weight and staying healthier, in my lifetime ... feels like relief."

This program is the latest move by WW International to become a more digital and tech-focused weight-management company. Earlier this year, WeightWatchers acquired Sequence, a subscription telehealth platform that offers access to healthcare providers that specialize in "chronic weight management" and are able to prescribe weight-loss drugs to patients.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/weightwatchers-launches-program-for-weight-loss-drug-users-after-oprah-confirms-glp-1-use-194649901.html