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It is perhaps most famous for its inflation-busting $1.50 hot dog and soda combo meal.
But Costco fans will soon find they no longer have an appetite for fast food, as the wholesaler announced it now offers prescriptions for weight-loss drugs like Ozempic.
The move is part of Costco’s new $179 three-month subscription weight loss program in partnership with healthcare provider Sesame. Non-members can also register for $195.
But the cost of the medicine is higher. GLP-1 weight loss drugs can cost users between $950 and $1,600 per month, according to Sesame’s website.
The company says it can prescribe injectable semaglutides, including Ozempic and Wegovy, as well as oral weight-loss medications. It claims patients can lose 5 percent of their body fat in three months, 10 percent in six months and 15 percent in one year.
Costco now offers a three-month subscription weight loss program for $179 in partnership with healthcare provider Sesame. Customers may be offered Ozempic prescriptions as part of the agreement.
Costco is perhaps most famous for its inflation-busting $1.50 hot dog and soda deal.
Costco and Sesame first announced their partnership last fall when they began offering online health checkups for as little as $29.
But bosses noted that one in five customer queries related to weight loss support.
Sesame co-founder and president Michael Botta said cnn: ‘It wasn’t what we initially thought would make sense to offer Costco members who were coming to Sesame.
“But we realized quickly, just by looking at what people were interested in, that there was a clear unmet need here.”
The three-month rolling program launched Tuesday and will include a video consultation with a doctor or weight loss specialist, ongoing support and unlimited messaging, and possibly a GLP-1 prescription if appropriate.
Weight-loss drugs have swept the country in recent years, acquiring a legion of celebrity fans, including Oprah and Elon Musk.
Botta added: ‘There is more and more interest among the wealthy masses, among the middle class, among almost everyone.
‘Obesity is prevalent at all socioeconomic levels in the United States. There are many people who have this interest and this need and we saw that in the data.”
American healthcare providers issued more than nine million prescriptions for Wegovy and other injectable weight-loss medications in the last three months of 2022 alone.
JPMorgan researchers estimate that about 9 percent of the US population (or 30 million people) could be taking GLP-1 drugs by 2030.
Costco has 130 million members, according to its website. An executive membership comes with an annual fee of $120, while Business and Gold Star memberships cost $60 respectively.
In March, Costco missed second-quarter revenue expectations, hurt by the impact of lower gasoline prices and soft consumer discretionary spending.
Weight-loss drugs have swept the country in recent years, acquiring a legion of celebrity fans, including Oprah and Elon Musk. Pictured: Oprah showing off his slimmed down figure last month.
JPMorgan researchers estimate that about 9 percent of the US population, or 30 million people, could be taking GLP-1 drugs by 2030. Elon Musk (pictured) admitted to using Ozempic
U.S. healthcare providers wrote more than nine million prescriptions for Wegovy and other injectable weight-loss medications in the last three months of 2022 alone.
Large retailers like Amazon and Walmart have been offering healthcare services after the pandemic.
Amazon offers virtual primary care service for Prime members through One Medical, which it purchased in 2022.
Walmart operates primary care centers in its stores, and its warehouse club retail chain, Sam’s Club, sells GLP-1 medications through its pharmacies.