The Diet and Weight Loss Industry Isn’t Helping People Lose Weight - Can Telehealth Change That?
Despite being a multi-billion dollar business — the weight loss industry just isn’t helping people lose weight.
More than 40% of Americans have obesity, a number that continues to rise. And despite being a multi-billion dollar business — the weight loss industry just isn’t helping people lose weight.
Perhaps that’s why new GLP-1 medications, like Wegovy, are getting so much attention. From Elon Musk to Hollywood stars, it feels like EVERYONE is talking about semaglutide (a type of GLP-1 medication sold under the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy®).
To learn more, I spoke to Sarah Jones Simmer, the CEO of Found. With over $130M in venture funding, Found is the largest medically-supported weight care clinic in the country.
Topics covered:
The concept of “responsible prescribing” in telehealth
How the diet and weight loss industry has failed us
How obesity has historically been treated
Semaglutide (Wegovy®): indications for its use and why everyone is talking about it
How her journey through an IPO and cancer led her to Found
Sarah Jones Simmer
Sarah Jones Simmer is an executive, investor, board member and C-level operator. In September 2021, she joined Found as CEO, with a mission to make evidence-based, sustainable weight care accessible for all. Found is quickly emerging as a leader with its innovative approach to weight loss by leveraging the best of modern medicine with personalized support.
Prior to Found, Sarah was an executive at Bumble, the women-first social networking app for four years where she served as Chief Operating Officer and was responsible for core strategy, international growth, marketing initiatives, and business operations, as well as the expansion of Bumble’s rapidly growing team.
Sarah has spoken at Dreamforce, SXSW, Techcrunch Disrupt, Traction, the Global Partnership for Education, and UN special sessions on topics ranging from venture investing to girls’ and women’s rights to the future of ethical business, and the challenges and opportunities of scaling rapid growth businesses. She has a Masters’ in Public Policy from Northwestern University. She used to run marathons and has completed an Ironman, but now spends her time outside of work raising two young daughters.
About Found
Found is an evidence-based weight care solution that combines the best of modern medicine with access to personalized coaching and a supportive community. Centered around clinical care and lasting behavior change, Found provides its members with a comprehensive weight loss program that delivers long term, sustainable results. Found designs personalized treatments around every factor that makes people unique, including biology, medical history, mental health, existent lifestyle, goals and more. Found’s members are supported by a team that includes providers to prescribe safe medication, and the best of consumer technology to provide behavioral health interventions delivered through our app for guidance on nutrition, movement, sleep and emotional health. Found is the largest medically-supported weight loss clinic in the country, serving nearly 180,000 Americans to-date.
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What on earth is a GLP-1 medication?
GLP-1 (shorthand for “glucagon-like peptide-1”) is a hormone that is produced naturally in the body. It plays a role in regulating glucose (sugar) levels in the blood and can stimulate the production of insulin in response to high blood sugar levels.
GLP-1 medications are drugs that mimic the action of GLP-1 in the body and are used to treat type 2 diabetes. They work by helping the body produce more insulin and by reducing the amount of glucose produced by the liver.
These medications can help lower blood sugar levels and improve glycemic control in people with type 2 diabetes, but have recently become popular for anyone looking to lose weight.
There are several GLP-1 medications that are commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes. These include:
Semaglutide (brand names: Ozempic®, Rybelsus®, Wegovy®)
Exenatide (brand names: Bydureon®, Byetta®)
Liraglutide (brand names: Victoza®, Saxenda®)
Albiglutide (brand names: Eperzan®, Tanzeum®)
Dulaglutide (brand names: Trulicity®)
Tirzepatide (brand name: Mounjaro®)
Can GLP-1 medications help with weight loss?
Yes, GLP-1 medications can help some people lose weight. These medications work by reducing appetite and increasing feelings of fullness, which can lead to weight loss. The average weight loss on GLP-1s is 15% to 22% of a person's total body weight.
What is Wegovy® and does it work?
Wegovy® (a brand-version of semaglutide) is a prescription medication that was recently FDA approved used to treat obesity in adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater, or in adults with a BMI over 26 and at least one weight-related comorbidity such as high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes.
Wegovy is taken by injection once weekly. It works by increasing feelings of fullness and decreasing appetite, which can lead to weight loss. It is usually used in combination with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.
Common side effects of Wegovy include nausea, diarrhea, and constipation. Rarely, more serious side effects such as pancreatitis and thyroid cancer have been reported with the use of semaglutide. If you experience any unusual symptoms while taking Wegovy, you should contact your healthcare provider immediately.
It’s important to note that research shows that discontinuing GLP-1s, like Wegovy®, leads to weight regain, and that completely stopping them may lead to regaining most of the weight lost within several months.
Can I take Wegovy® to lose 10 pounds?
If you do not qualify for Wegovy®, you cannot get a prescription. As with any medication, there are risks to taking it, and if there’s not a medical need, you could be putting yourself at risk. Not only that, but you could be contributing to the medication shortage for those with diabetes.