GLP-1s Are Reshaping Nutrition And Creating a Massive Opportunity for Formulators

GLP-1s Are Reshaping Nutrition And Creating a Massive Opportunity for Formulators

GLP-1 agonists have rewritten the rules of weight management almost overnight—and in the process created one of the biggest nutrition challenges (and opportunities) formulators have seen in decades.

For brands paying attention, this shift represents one of the most significant product development opportunities in years. But capitalizing on it requires understanding exactly what GLP-1 users need, and why traditional formulations fall short.

 

Massive Market, Massive Gaps

The numbers tell the story.

The global weight-loss and diabetes drug market has surged into the tens of billions of dollars, and the GLP-1 companion product market alone is projected to more than triple by 2035.

But despite their effectiveness, GLP-1s come with tradeoffs. Nearly half of users discontinue therapy within a year. Roughly 30% stop specifically because of gastrointestinal side effects.

That’s not a minor attrition rate. It’s a clear issue with tolerability—and a major opening for targeted nutritional solutions.

 

Three Challenges GLP-1 Users Face

Three issues consistently emerge among GLP-1 users:

1. Digestive Discomfort

• Up to 40% of users report bloating, diarrhea, nausea & vomiting
• GI symptoms are the #1 reason users abandon therapy early

2. Loss of Lean Muscle

• 35–45% of weight loss on GLP-1 therapy comes from lean muscle & bone mass, not fat
• Muscle loss can accelerate metabolic slowdown & compromise long-term outcomes

3. Nutrient Gaps from Reduced Intake

• GLP-1 users typically consume ~20% fewer calories overall
• Diets often skew toward low protein & inadequate micronutrients—exactly the opposite of what the body needs during rapid weight loss

For formulators, addressing digestive health and protein utilization is no longer “nice to have.” It’s the difference between a product consumers try once and one they rely on throughout their GLP-1 journey.

 

When Protein Isn’t Enough

Protein has always been central to preserving lean mass and metabolic resilience, but GLP-1s make hitting protein targets genuinely difficult. Consumers are dealing with:

• Smaller meals
• Slower gastric emptying
• Heightened satiety signals

Your customers have three strikes against them before they even open a shaker bottle. And when they manage to eat enough protein, altered digestion may reduce how efficiently it’s actually broken down and utilized.

So, you have a consumer who’s already under-eating protein and losing muscle.  Now they’re struggling to absorb what little they do consume. For brands in the high-protein space, that’s a direct hit to your product’s ability to deliver on its promise.

 

DigeSEB Sport™ Changes the Equation

DigeSEB Sport™ addresses this exact scenario. Its blend of proteolytic enzymes, five probiotics and a prebiotic promotes efficient protein digestion and a healthy gut microbiome—giving consumers what they actually need to get results from your product.*

 

Clinical Results

Two published, peer-reviewed clinical studies show that when taken with protein, DigeSEB Sport™ promotes:

• Up to 20% greater amino acid absorption, helping consumers get more from every gram of protein consumed*
• A healthy & balanced gut microbiome, supporting overall gut health & digestive comfort*
• Production of postbiotics, such as GABA, associated with performance, recovery and energy*

It’s simple. Your product is high-protein. Their digestion is compromised. GLP-1 use makes it worse. DigeSEB Sport™ makes it better—and keeps consumers coming back.*

 

New Category for Product Innovation

GLP-1 support is quickly emerging as a product category of its own.

DigeSEB Sport™ is a natural fit for formulators of high-protein products—protein powders, meal replacements, functional snacks, ready-to-drink shakes—looking to address consumer pain points.*

Let’s face it, GLP-1 users aren’t passive buyers. They are deeply invested in their health outcomes, actively researching what supports their journey and willing to spend on products that deliver real, science-backed results.

Give them what they need to successfully navigate this journey, and you earn a customer for the long haul.

Meet Us at SupplySide Connect

Want to see how DigeSEB Sport™ translates into real-world formulations?

Set up a meeting or stop by Booth #242 at SupplySide Connect on April 14-15 to meet our enzyme and probiotic experts and learn more about our clinical research and formulation possibilities.

Discover how DigeSEB Sport™ and our metabolic support blends can help elevate your next high-protein product.

The GLP-1 era is here. The real question isn’t whether to build for it—it’s whether you’ll lead or follow.