Weight management: How the hype is fuelling interest in holistic solutions
We explain why our natural nutraceutical ingredients are gaining traction in the energized weight management sector. Plus, reveal the most recent research behind our latest innovation for appetite control.
Back in focus
When Ozempic hit the headlines as a potential weight loss drug a few years ago, it sparked an important conversation around what weight management looks like for today’s consumers. Since then, we’ve seen other GLP-1 based medications, enter this space and hundreds of thousands of people worldwide are now reportedly taking drugs like these to lose weight.
Yet, despite huge interest on social media platforms and notable celebrity name checks, not everyone is turning to these so-called “wonder drugs” to achieve their weight loss goals. In fact, according to research¹, weight loss medication is currently the tenth most popular way to manage weight. The top spot goes to exercise and fitness, followed by reducing negative nutrition (such as sugar) and boosting nutritional balance respectively.
What this tells us is that the concept of weight management is evolving. On the one hand, prescription drugs offer a potential new direction and have undoubtedly raised the profile of the sector. But at the same time, concern around their unwanted side effects and rebound weight gain, has opened up opportunities for more natural forms of weight loss, where dietary intake is seen as an essential part of the journey and decisions are made based on the benefits of different ingredients and product formulations.
Given that weight management is one of the top five health and nutrition trends1 for 2025 and 4 in 5 consumers globally1 are actively trying to manage their weight, now is the time for product developers and brand owners to respond with targeted solutions designed to meet this need.
Carolean™: Effective & natural appetite control
One of the biggest issues for those trying to lose weight or maintain what they consider to be a healthy weight is supressing hunger between meals, which is why we’ve made this an important focus of Nexira’s R&D programme.
The result is Carolean™, a synergistic complex specifically formulated for effective appetite control. Its proprietary, patent-pending formulation brings together two exceptional ingredients from our portfolio – Carob and Nopal – which are both sustainably sourced and gently processed to preserve their natural benefits. Most importantly, Carolean™ has demonstrate through a new study its clear ability to reduce appetite and limit cravings between meals.
It works by leaning into the recognized role² of texture and viscosity as a mechanism for triggering feelings of satiety. Crucially, the synergistic effect of Carob and Nopal in our Carolean complex has been shown to deliver outstanding results. Studies show:
- Superior viscosity compared to single ingredients
- Exponential viscosity at ambient temperature
- Superior kinetics under conditions that mimic ingestion, with faster satiety culmination compared to market standards
- Rapid satiety effect 15 minutes after ingestion
- Optimized digestion after 80 minutes, with no digestive discomfort.
Proven results
But that’s not all. New research investigating the effect of Carolean™ on gastric emptying – the complex process by which food is moved from the stomach to the small intestine – has resulted in equally compelling outcomes.
Simply put, the presence of food in the stomach triggers the release of gut hormones which send signals to the brain indicating that it is time to stop eating. The rate at which the stomach empties affects both how long those signals last and how long it takes to feel hungry again. This means delaying gastric emptying is key to improving the feeling of fullness (satiety) after eating.
Our four week in-vivo study assessed the rate of gastric emptying and food intake in response to supplementation with Carolean™. Key findings include:
- Significant reduction in gastric emptying speed vs control and single use ingredients
- Confirmation of its positive synergistic effect
- Significant reduction in food intake; -47% in 3 weeks (in average)
- An ability to regulate calorie intake within a normal and healthy range
These proven benefits – together with a fully traceable and responsible sourcing story – build a strong platform for the use of Carolean™ in wide range of dietary supplements for weight management.*
Benefits of Nexira’s 360◦ approach
Of course, we understand that weight loss is often only the start of the journey. Whether approached through nutritional support, diet, exercise, or a combination of all three, achieving and maintaining a healthy weight is an ongoing challenge. And, as such, it demands a holistic approach.
That means addressing the fact that many people regain significant weight after following a strict diet or discontinuing a GLP-1 medication program. It also means recognizing there is no one-size-fits-all solution, and different ingredients with substantiated modes of action are often needed to deliver the required results over the long term.
With Nexira’s GET FIT range of premium natural ingredients, developers and brand owners benefit from a complete range of solutions designed to support different aspects of effective weight management.
Positive support for GLP-1s
With interest in GLP-1 medications for weight loss showing no signs of slowing, we believe there is also a requirement for supporting nutritional and physiological needs throughout this weight management journey. From gut discomfort and muscle loss to lack of energy and insufficient nutrient intake, there is a long list of challenging experiences. In response, we have launched Nexira’s GLP-1 collection of naturally-inspired premium ingredients, which – as the name suggests – offers a range of benefits that help to soften the many negatives experienced by consumers taking this form of medication.
To discuss the results of our latest Carolean™ study or find out more about our GET FIT and GLP-1 Program collections, contact us ⤵️
1. Innova Market Insights: Top Health & Nutrition Trends 2025 – Global – Sep 2020
2. Stribiţcaia E, Evans CEL, Gibbons C, Blundell J, Sarkar A. Food texture influences on satiety: systematic review and meta-analysis. Sci Rep. 2020 Jul 31;10(1):12929. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-69504-y. PMID: 32737349; PMCID: PMC7395742.
*Orodispersible formats must not be used. Carolean needs to be rehydrated before ingestion.
This communication is not intended to the final consumer. It provides scientific information for professionals only. Communication to final consumer has to be checked according to local regulation in force, since the conditions of use are beyond our control. This statement has not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
