June 25 (Reuters) - Nestle's health unit on

Tuesday launched a web platform to provide nutritional support

for individuals on weight loss programs, including those using

GLP-1 medications.

Nestle Health Science said the website will address specific

needs such as preserving lean muscle mass, supporting gut

health, and offering personalized diet assistance.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

As more people use GLP-1 drugs for weight control,

several telehealth companies have started offering services to

support these individuals.

In June, Kroger Health, the division of the grocery chain

Kroger that operates pharmacies and clinics across the

U.S., revamped its weight management program to offer patients

access to medical treatments such as Wegovy, Zepbound and

others.

Health and wellness platform Hims & Hers Health ( HIMS ) in

May also added compounded versions of GLP-1 injections to its

comprehensive weight loss portfolio

CONTEXT

GLP-1 medications have recently become popular and are

in strong demand in the U.S. These drugs, including Novo

Nordisk's Ozempic and Wegovy, were initially

developed to treat type 2 diabetes but also help with weight

loss by suppressing appetite and promoting fullness.

However, there have been intermittent shortages over the

past year, with makers such as Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly ( LLY )

, which makes Mounjaro racing to ramp up supply.

The growing use of these drugs has led experts to project

annual global sales of about $150 billion by the early 2030s.