GLP-1 Demand Reshapes Health & Wellness Startups

Dealing with chronic health issues inspired Aidan Dewar to explore a new business idea. In 2021, he teamed up with Sam Perkins and Stephanie Liu to launch Nourish. The platform connects people with registered dietitians.

As these medications became more widely used, demand grew for services that could support patients alongside their prescriptions. Nourish was well positioned to meet that need by connecting patients with qualified dietitians.

The numbers show just how quickly GLP-1 medications are taking off. Analysts estimate that 10 million people used GLP-1 drugs in 2025. That’s almost double the number from 2023. Experts predict the figure could reach 30 million by 2030.

This rapid growth has created major opportunities for clinics, doctors, and support programs. Nourish capitalized on the trend, generating nine-figure revenues in just three years.

To make care simpler for patients, the company began offering prescriptions directly in early 2026. Patients can now access medical care and diet advice in one place.

Diagnostic companies are also seeing a significant jump in business. For example, Elaine Shi and Roy Shi originally founded BodySpec to offer body scans to athletes and fitness enthusiasts. However, as weight-loss drugs have become more mainstream, everyday patients have started using these scans to track how much fat they are losing compared with muscle.

Moreover, this growing focus on preventive health is bringing a new wave of customers to diagnostic startups. As people pay closer attention to changes in their bodies and overall health, demand for accessible diagnostic tools is rising.

With so much rapid growth, healthcare systems face new challenges. Doctors need to monitor patients carefully to manage side effects, while government health programs and private insurers are trying to figure out how to cover the high costs. At the same time, the sudden flood of new apps and services brings up questions about care quality. Startups like Nourish say their combined diet and medical programs help patients stick to healthy habits, but independent research is still needed to confirm those results.

Investors are eager to fund startups that make patient care simpler and more personalized. As this market continues to grow, expect to see more specialized health apps pop up along with stricter government rules and insurance guidelines to keep everything safe and affordable for patients.