Marks and Spencer launches new meal and snack range for those on weight-loss jabs

Marks and Spencer is set to launch a new range of meals and snacks designed for customers taking weight-loss drugs, amid a rise in people using the medication.

Nutrient Dense, set to launch on January 5, comprises of 20 products which M&S say have been formulated for customers to meet their daily recommended amounts of fibre, vitamins and minerals.

The brand said the meals were aimed at those with a lower appetite or customers taking GLP-1 weight loss medication.

The range includes meals such as tandoori chicken, romesco chicken and cauli-rice prawn paella, snacks such as chocolate chia mousse and super-seeded crackers, and an H50 shot containing five botanical ingredients selected and verified by scientists at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

‘Even pensioners’ meals are still massive’

The announcement comes after STV News spoke with a Scottish mum who called for smaller portions to be made more widely available for those taking weight-loss medication.

Edinburgh & East

‘I do wish there were smaller plate options out there for people on medicated weight loss’

The 29-year-old from West Lothian was three months postpartum after having her first child and at the heaviest she’d ever been when she decided to go on the medication.

Kelsey Smith has lost more than 11 stone since starting Mounjaro a year and a half ago.

The 29-year-old from West Lothian was three months postpartum after having her first child and at the heaviest she’d ever been – around 22 and a half stone – when she decided to go on the medication.

With both her sister and mum also using the injections, she says having family support makes managing meals easier, but eating out can be a different story.

She told STV News: “I do wish there was smaller plate options out there for people on medicated weight loss.

“Even when I used to go out with my wee granny, pensioners meals, they were still massive.”

‘Postcode lottery’ for weight-loss jabs despite demand

Marks and Spencer’s launch of the range comes as recent data suggests that over 300,000 people are being privately prescribed weight loss drugs in Scotland.

However, some are facing a “postcode lottery” over NHS access to the drugs, after the price shot up in September.

Edinburgh & East

Fears over ‘postcode lottery’ for NHS weight-loss drug access in Scotland

Around 300,000 people are believed to be accessing weight loss drugs privately.

Just two health boards in Scotland currently offer the medication, with two more expected to begin prescribing the drugs soon and five more working towards it.

A new Scottish Government trial will also offer up to 5,000 people in the country’s most deprived areas free access to the drugs, in a bid to improve understanding and inform future rollout.

‘Exciting launch’

Marks and Spencer said it was “excited” by the launch of its new range, noting that recent government research has found the UK population is deficient in several nutrients, with 96% not meeting the daily fibre recommendation.

M&S head of food trends Annette Peters said: “The Nutrient Dense range is so exciting and is also incredibly useful for anyone trying to hit their nutritional targets.

“It is also great if customers are reducing their food intake, such as those using weight-loss medication.

“We know the use of GLP-1 medications is growing, so it’s more important than ever to ensure that even if people are eating smaller portions, we help provide them with the right level of nutrients.

“We have challenged ourselves to make products that are denser in nutrients than calories, so every single mouthful is packed full of more of the good stuff we all need.”

The Nutrient Dense range is available in M&S Foodhalls from January 5.