Embla

Happy to announce we are featured in this mornings news article from Sifted. ☕️ GLP-1 medication has proven to be extremely effective for weight loss. But medicine cannot stand alone. That is one of the reasons Nicholas Syhler and Laust Wilster Axelsen established Embla. One of our key missions is to pave the way for more healthy and sustainable approaches to medical weight loss. For instance, we are proud to use an average 59 % less medication, but reaching same weight loss as the clinical studies. We support our members by holistic health coaching, creating better habits that will improve chances of long-term weight loss. And we are beyond proud of the results we have had so far. Proud to say we have helped more than 10,000 people, surrounded by now 50+ fantastic colleagues in both Denmark and UK, challenging what seems like an exciting next chapter, ready to grow and expand further with what we see as a sustainable and indeed succesful business model. A special thanks to Seed Capital Denmark, Inovo.vc, Crowberry Capital, VentureFriends and Founders for believing in us and giving us the ability to grow further and pave the way for preventative healthcare, fighting obesity. We are all looking forward to the exciting journey ahead of us🚀 Niels Vejrup Carlsen Tine Marie Kjærgaard Lindgreen Hekla Arnardottir Apostolos Apostolakis Simon Sylvest Jack Peters Fivos Tsoukatos Przybylak

Having a higher weight *doesn't* mean you're: A bad person Weak-willed Lazy Undisciplined Irresponsible Unhealthy Unworthy of love and respect Unintelligent Less valuable Unsuccessful Incapable of change Unattractive Inadequate Lacking self-control Unmotivated Insecure It simply means you're a human being with a higher weight compared to "the average." Nothing more, nothing less. Whatever our size, everyone of us is equally valuable. Let's not forget that.

Should you “microdose” GLP-1s? Here’s my take after treating thousands with obesity. According to Fox News Media, Ozempic “microdosing” is becoming a popular weight loss trend. But is this really something to be concerned about or is it just people finding out that you don’t need to use the maximal doses to benefit from GLP-1 medications? -> Here’s my take on whether you should “microdose” GLP-1s or not: 1) It depends on how you define microdosing 2) It depends on the individual As noted by Dr Fatima Cody Stanford, the standard dosing is based on clinical trials. There’s not the same evidence behind microdoses.
 At Embla, we have 3 years of experience treating obesity with GLP-1s and already within the first months of using these novel drugs, it became clear to us that you needed to personalize the dose and titration. 
 Some would have a great effect on the lowest approved dose of 0.25mg semaglutide. Others would have side effects already on 0.5mg but no side effects if we ‘hacked the pen’ (as Dr Alexandra Sowa puts it) and treated with 0.38mg.  This led us to do a study with more than 2,000 participants, which found that the average maximum dose of semaglutide we used was 0.77mg (!). Way lower than the 2.4mg you end at if you follow the standard titration. Despite these lower doses, we still achieved an average real-world weight loss of 14.9% similar to outcomes seen in clinical trials.
 —> So, should you microdose GLP-1s or not?

 If you by microdosing mean using a maximum dose lower than 2.4mg but still within the range of approved doses, then yes. Many will need to ‘microdose’ using a dose that fits their bodies and unique situations. If you mean using doses significantly below 0.25mg, this is likely not more risky than higher doses but don’t expect any significant benefits. I know you will likely find this interesting: Henrik Rindel Gudbergsen Scott Conard, MD Laust Wilster Axelsen Paul Elsass Embla Prof Paul Gately Signe Torekov Søren Seier Azeem Yussouf Dr Oliver Large Simon Lucas Lise Geisler Bjerregaard Wendi Mader John Permenter Adam Baker Vik Panda

"Eat less and move more" is terrible weight loss advice. It's like saying "don't overthink" to an anxious person. Or "think happier thoughts" to someone dealing with depression. It's incredibly reductive and ignorant. Most people with a higher weight *know* what to do to lose weight, so information isn't the problem. They've also tried a million things before, so inaction isn't the problem either. What we're forgetting is this: People are complicated. Really complicated. Putting on weight may be a byproduct of eating too much and moving too little. But what's causing the overeating and inactivity? Is it: - Lack of nutrition knowledge? - Struggles with self-control? - Poor mental health? - An unhealthy relationship with food? - Social or financial struggles? - Hormonal issues like PCOS or thyroid problems? - Genetics making weight harder to manage? - Emotional eating from stress or trauma? - Food addiction or cravings for processed foods? - Side effects from medication? - No access to healthy food? - A busy lifestyle relying on fast food? - Skipping meals or irregular eating habits? When we say "eat less and move more," we ignore these deeper issues and oversimplify a complex problem. Let's start by acknowledging this complexity. Only then can we develop weight care solutions like Embla that actually works for real people.

Meet Cassandra. Like many of our members, she’s faced years of challenges with her weight. For her, the most frustrating part was feeling stuck in a version of herself she barely recognized. But after joining our programme (and committing to the process), Cassandra has completely transformed her life. Once, you might have met someone unsure and slightly anxious. Today, you’ll meet a woman radiating confidence, comfortable in her own skin, and ready to embrace life at full speed. "I feel like I can do anything."

I'm really excited to introduce Embla's re-brand, after months of hard work from an incredible team. A bold new look and feel, a cleaner and clearer proposition, reinforcing what we stand for: a health-focused weight-management program that celebrates and supports the journey of each individual. A huge thank you also to Andy Whitlock and Mike Scott for stellar work on brand strategy and creative direction.

Quick fixes. Fad diets. Harmful shortcuts. This is everything we are not. Losing weight isn’t easy. It’s about genetics, habits, hormones, personality, psychology, nutrition, behaviours and more. There’s a lot to weight loss because it’s intertwined with every part of our lives, and our lives are complicated. Earlier this year we set to work creating a fresh look and feel, and a bolder voice that cuts through in a noisy market that’s still too focused on the quick win, the short-term result. We needed to be clearer that Embla stands for something very different. Our approach weighs up all factors affecting weight loss to create a bespoke plan for each individual, focused on the most important thing - long term health.  A completely new look, but the same leading expertise, support, and values-based care that our members choose us for. #joinembla #embla

Very interesting article by Sifted on the GLP-1 startup space, with comments by our very own Nicholas & Laust. Give it a read (full article link below).

After just 3 years in business, we're happy to share that EY has nominated our "small" startup for their Entrepreneur of the Year 2024 award 🏅 This nomination — more than anything — goes to show that helping other people improve their health and lives is both a worthy cause and a great business case. So, thanks 👏 to EY for the nomination. And thanks 👏 to everyone who has ever contributed to Embla for getting us to where we are today. You're the best.

The following article by Fortune (link in comments) offers a disappointing snapshot of the current state of the weight loss market. Whilst we are proud to be referenced alongside some other organisations looking at the same problem and tackling it in different ways to us (Noom, Calibrate, WeightWatchers, Found), we are keen to address a few points: -> Medication alone isn't the solution GLP-1s are part of the strategy, but behavioral changes are crucial for long-term success. The article focuses solely on GLP-1s, ignoring the essential role of behavioral health in weight loss. At Embla, Co-founded with Laust Wilster Axelsen, we aim to combat obesity with a comprehensive approach, beyond just medication - we prioritize education, guidance, and support to ensure lasting change.     -> A holistic approach is key Just as painkillers aren't a permanent fix for back pain, GLP-1s must be complemented with lifestyle changes to address the root causes of obesity. Obesity is tied to genetics, lifestyle, and psychology, requiring personalized interventions. We develop programs that fit our members’ lifestyles and meet them where they are. -> Our research shows promise In a study of 2,200 patients, including 350 who tapered down or completely off medication, we found that lower GLP-1 doses combined with lifestyle changes effectively prevent weight regain. This highlights the potential for solutions that don’t rely on lifelong medication. The article claims drug manufacturers see weight loss drugs as lifelong treatments. However, Novo Nordisk’s CEO has stated that lifelong treatment isn't needed for all (link in comments). Our team, including experts like Dr. Henrik Rindel Gudbergsen and myself, brings significant expertise in obesity care. We’d love to hear thoughts from Noom, Calibrate, WeightWatchers, Found, and others on this piece. Let's start a discussion on effectively tackling obesity in the comments!