Nutrition therapy company Berry Street has launched its GLP-1 nutritional pathway program, which aims to provide nutritional support to those who start, take away and get rid of GLP-1.
The New York City-based company works with the health program and connects patients in need of nutritional support to a network of registered dietitians. It provides a personalized treatment plan for patients suffering from weight management, diabetes, heart health, kidney disease and many other diseases.
The new GLP-1 program is designed to support patients at three stages:
- The “exploration” phase of patients who hope to begin the “exploration” phase of GLP-1. Berry Street clinicians can help patients determine if the medication is right for them.
- The current “optimization” phase for patients taking GLP-1. Clinicians help patients get the best results by combining medication with nutritional therapy.
- Preparing for the “maintenance” phase of patients who are preparing to stop GLP-1. Clinicians provide nutritional support so that patients do not gain weight after taking the medication.
Through the program, patients can have virtual access through registered dietitians and certified nutrition experts and educated content tailored to their status and digital tools in the Berry Street app. Richard Fu, chief commercial officer of Berry Street, said it was also “flexible” for patients, meaning patients don't have to move through these three stages.
“For example, if a first-time Berry Street user wants to get out of GLP-1, they will only go through the “sustaining” phase,” he said in an email.
Michele Rager, head of clinical nutrition at Berry Street, said that while Berry Street clinicians are supporting people taking GLP-1, they are not actually prescribed medications. Instead, patients must obtain prescriptions from other providers.
In recent years, GLP-1 has been used for obesity. KFF says about one in eight adults have used GLP-1 medication to lose weight or treat chronic diseases. In addition, between 2018 and 2023, total spending on GLP-1 in the United States increased by 500%. Studies have shown that GLP-1 works best when paired with behavioral changes such as healthy eating and exercise.
“We can no longer ignore the role of nutritional care in the GLP-1 care journey of patients. Proper nutrition education and behavioral support should go hand in hand with GLP-1, but routine care for these drugs usually does not include nutritional interventions,” Rag said in a statement. “Our new program addresses this critical gap by providing patients with structured nutrition guidance and personalized, evidence-based support to help them get the best results from GLP-1 treatment regardless of their stage.”
Berry Street has announced that results have been achieved for patients who want to lose weight. Among clinical obesity patients who participated in 6 to 12 months of clinical obesity, 74% without GLP-1 treatment lost an average of 16.9 pounds (7.3% of body weight), while 84.8% of GLP-1 lost an average of 24 pounds (9.34% of body weight).
Many other digital health companies have also launched behavioral change programs tailored to people taking GLP-1, including Omada Health, northern and weatherwatchers.
Photos: vgajic, Getty Images
