This Popular Gym Chain Will Have a New Membership Perk: Anti-Obesity Drugs

Amidst the growing popularity of weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy for shedding weight, a renowned gym franchise has declared its intention to provide its members access to these injectable medications.

Jeff Zwiefel, the President and COO of Life Time Fitness, engaged in a recent discussion with CNBC, unveiling the company's strategy to accommodate the preferences of its members.

Many of them have shown a keen interest in integrating medications with semaglutide, the key component in these well-known weight loss drugs, into their nutritional and exercise routines.

"I am in the process of embarking on a pilot program that does exactly that," Zwiefel said.

"For us to evaluate, through the use and deployment of physicians, physician assistants, [and] nurse practitioners that would be in-house at Life Time.

He explained that the chain would work in an integrated way with members' primary care doctors along with with Life Time personal trainers and registered dietitians to create a comprehensive program.

However, the fitness chain will not be handing out the drug to just anyone. Zwiefel added that they will only approve the use of weight loss medications through extensive blood panel analysis and meeting FDA requirements of increased physical activities.

While some people may think that weight loss medications are an easy solution and a reason to skip the gym, Life Time's plans reiterate the importance of diet and exercise and will ostensibly not affect member attendance.

The chain is following in the footsteps of other weight loss brands who have already incorporated weight loss medications into their programs.

Earlier this year, WeightWatchers acquired Sequence, a digital heath platform for clinical weight management with the ability to prescribe GLP-1s. Not long after, Noom launched Noom Med, a new program combining personalized medical solutions with the weight loss app's psychological support, "to make long-term, transformational weight loss possible."