Arla Foods Ingredients has declared itself ready to deliver solutions for the growing “companion nutrition” market. The aim is to protect muscle mass in consumers taking GLP-1 medication, the company states in a press release.
The explosive sales of GLP-1-based weight-loss drugs such as Wegovy and Ozempic have created a new consumer group with highly specific nutritional needs. The medication markedly suppresses appetite, but at the same time leads to significant loss of muscle mass as well as gastrointestinal problems in many users.
For the dairy industry, this development is opening up a new business area within so-called GLP-1 companion nutrition – that is, foods developed to support medically induced weight loss.
Up to 40 per cent of weight loss can be muscle
Whereas traditional weight loss typically consists of around 25 per cent muscle mass, that figure can rise to as much as 40 per cent with the use of GLP-1 preparations. This creates a risk of undernutrition and weakness unless protein intake is kept sufficiently high.
The ingredients sector therefore sees a need to redefine weight management, shifting the focus from simple calorie reduction towards preserving muscle mass and metabolic health.
“Anti-obesity medications are creating a market for more nutrient-dense foods that are high in protein to protect lean muscle mass and are easy to digest,” says Anne Widart, Chief Commercial Officer at Arla Foods Ingredients.
Nutrient density in small formats
The challenge for product developers is to deliver large amounts of high-quality protein in very small portions, since the medication significantly reduces meal sizes.
In a series of new concepts, Arla Foods Ingredients has combined whey proteins with probiotic cultures from Novonesis. The aim is to create products that both meet amino acid requirements and address the digestive discomfort experienced by up to three in four users of the medication.
Among the technological concepts the company is now presenting to dairy producers are lactose-reduced protein shots, high-concentration drinking and spoonable yoghurts, and water-based protein drinks that can be stored at room temperature.
The new solutions will be presented at the Vitafoods Europe 2026 ingredients trade fair in Barcelona.
By Maja Løvstrup
Photo: Arla Foods Ingredients
