Nestlé Leverages AI to Develop Foods for GLP-1 Users and Tackle Side Effects

The food industry is undergoing a significant shift as consumers increasingly turn to weight-loss drugs like GLP-1 medications. According to Innova Market Insights, the share of Americans using a GLP-1 medication rose from 10% in 2024 to 18% in 2025.

A recent poll by Gallup suggests that 11% of US adults are actively using weight-loss drugs this year, reaching a new high. As a result, the food industry is reformulating products and developing new innovations that complement these drugs, in response to shifting consumer needs.

## Nestlé's AI-Powered Approach

Nestlé, the largest food company globally, is leveraging AI and nutritional science to create products suitable for GLP-1 users. The company is using AI to speed up research, product development, and consumer analysis, and to come up with products tailored to the needs of GLP-1 users.

Nestlé has created internal systems to assess scientific literature, simulate consumer behaviour, find emerging trends, and help product developers navigate a database of around 120,000 recipes. This includes Food Genie, a tool that helps its team predict how recipes might perform and identify reformulation opportunities.

| Tool | Description | | --- | --- | | Food Genie | Predicts how recipes might perform and identifies reformulation opportunities | | AI tools | Predict food and consumer behaviour, and monitor social media to pinpoint emerging consumer trends |

The company's AI tools can also predict how shoppers will respond to new products and health claims before they reach supermarket shelves. Nestlé has separately worked with Chilean startup NotCo, which makes plant-based meat and dairy alternatives and supplies its AI tech to food companies for faster, more informed product development.

## Tackling GLP-1 Side Effects

As part of its efforts, Nestlé's team has been studying the consequences of rapid weight loss and developing products to help consumers manage them. Studies show that GLP-1 medications can cause gastrointestinal issues such as nausea and vomiting, mental health problems like anxiety and irritability, and a phenomenon dubbed 'Ozempic tongue'.

Moreover, GLP-1 users experience a 25-40% decrease in muscle mass over eight to 16 months. Nestlé's AI tools are processing swathes of clinical research and identifying nutrient blends that can support muscle health, hydration and nutritional intake.

The company has also patented combinations of proprietary ingredients designed to suppress appetite among people who often experience increased hunger after coming off the weight-loss drugs. Its range of GLP-1-friendly products already includes an advanced nutrition shake under the Boost brand in the US, which contains 35g of protein to maintain muscle health during weight loss.

With more than 30 million Americans expected to be on GLP-1 treatment in 2030, the food industry is gearing up to join what was once perceived as one of its greatest threats.