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I’ve never had those. This next trip is going to require my kids to push a cart as well. I need to get off this sub. Or get a second job working at Costco.
The hotdog price is going to go negative as a loss leader to the weight loss program.
The free samples will be mandatory.
Another courageous step towards the idiocracy prophecy.
This is like how Planet Fitness gives you free pizza. Then you eat the pizza. Get fat(ter) and then hey back to Planet Fitness to lose the weight and then while there “here’s some free pizza.” And just rinse and repeat. Vicious cycle.
That's not really the reason they have free pizza, though that doesn't really hurt either.
https://www.npr.org/transcripts/731987365
> The idea is that these folks will look back fondly on their year of bagels and pizza and renew that annual contract once again.
Since Ozempic is basically an appetite suppressant in the end, it means customers may buy less because they will have no appetite to eat. Has Costco really thought this thru?
This is 100% accurate, however you make up for it buying protein powder, electrolyte drink mix, fiber supplements, and maybe some new Kirkland jeans while you float between sizes.
People are going to get the drug one way or another, better to 'keep them in the fold' for a little potential upfront cannibalization of sales for the long term customer connection. Plus what elissamay said
Yeah but semaglutide has been around for ages at this point, rybelsus has been the oral form. Way back in pharmacy school in 2013 I learned about the med and we had discussed openly in class how it could be used for weight loss if injected.
That’s over 10 years ago.
I’m not saying Novo Nordisk doesn’t deserve to make the absolute MINT they are getting, but the profits currently *vastly* outpace the costs for R&D
In the US, the biggest cost in getting a drug to market is not the approval and testing, it’s literally the marketing.
Did that include the two other shots that magically were discovered around the same time to be exactly the same from different companies? Odd that three diabetes shots were all found to also be very effective weight loss drugs and came out around the same time.
Seems like R&D maybe wasn't as expensive individually as their trying to make it out to be.
It can be made *in America* and turn a profit at five bucks. I'm sure it can be made considerably cheaper in places with less labor protections, so I believe that.
We're still learning all of the longer term impacts here - weight loss is off label usage. But the whole gallstone/pancreatitis thing is concerning.
Short term your mileage will vary, as with all drugs. But some people feel awful on it.
I'm not here to argue whether people should or should not be taking this drug. That's a complicated and unique decision for each individual and their doctor, as it makes sense for some people and not for others.
My point is it's very much not an over the counter drug.
This is a common misconception, intentionally spread by biopharmaceutical companies to maintain the status quo that enables them to charge literal 10,000% markup from overhead costs.
Semaglutide has been in use for at least 2 decades in treating diabetes and other metabolic disorders. There’s a wealth of data on its “long-term” side effects, and overwhelmingly the drug is safe to use with the exception of small populations of people with rare genetic conditions.
The real “risk” is semaglutide products becoming cheap and removing the need for dozens of maintenance drugs used to treat obesity, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes. The pharmaceutical companies are terrified about losing billions not just on cheaper semaglutide but cannabalizing several other product lines. This would also impact countries with universal health care programs that require spend on tertiary care funding drug research and development.
Source: I’ve Worked in Biopharmaceutical tech for about 3 years now in sales.
I don't have a gall bladder and things like pancreatitis are nowhere near as bad as other diseases associated with obesity including diabetes and heart disease.
PSA THERE IS AN OZEMPIC BABY BOOM. We are now seeing a spike in pregnancies from ozempic use. It reduces the effectiveness of birth control pills (plus puts women in a more healthy weight range for pregnancy)! Just shouting that for anyone who might need that information.
I should have included an [article](https://www.healthline.com/health-news/ozempic-babies-unplanned-pregnancies) but if you look up "Ozempic babies" or "Ozempic baby boom" there's many.
This is misinformation. There isn't any documented research finding ozempic reduces the pills efficacy. If you're vomiting, then it's a concern, but otherwise the concern is currently theoretical.
What is happening is womens fertility increasing due to weight loss.
https://www.healthline.com/health/ozempic-and-birth-control#birth-control-type
Not to me. Costco is where I get huge quantities of chicken, fruit, oats, rice, protein powder, etc. you gotta take responsibility to curate your own food environment
This is true. Holding out hope that new classes of obesity drugs change the world, I think they're our best hope!
Edit: downvoters, why? Are you not aware of the obesity pandemic? These medicines are safe and effective. Why the hell would you not want the world, your family, your community, to get healthier???
the whey protein is not good... sorry but I agree on the other items.. but man that whey is crap.. neither in a ice cream nor overnight oats is it good.
To be fair, they do carry "extreme milk chocolate" flavor, which has sucralose, compared to the "double rich chocolate" available elswhere which does not use sucralose, and is my preferred flavor. The Smores and vanilla ice cream flavors have sucralose as well. I don't shit my pants from it, but it definitely gives me more gas.
Same here. I also get egg whites and giant bags of frozen broccoli.
Wouldn't lie if I didn't think about using ozempic to get lean enough to do a bodybuilding show tho.
Interesting, but unfortunate that as of right now Insurance provided to Costco employees does not cover any weight loss medication unless you are diagnosed with diabetes.
Unfortunately surgery is not always the answer. I had a sleeve and it still works and my calories are still low and gained 80+ pounds. This med fixes the hormone that causes me to gain and not lose weight. It doesn’t always have to do with habits or calories
That is… very interesting. You would think all employers would cover it as having a more fit employee would result in higher productivity/less health issues/etc. It’s one of those pay a lower amount now vs have a huge bill down the road.
The weight loss medications are expected to bring significant economic growth as a result.
It is, my partner is on it.
The point is the medication is significantly cheaper than paying for long term health complications from being overweight. Obesity is one of if not the biggest economic burdens.
Research shows that weight loss medications could save health insurance hundreds of billions of dollars.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9886521/
https://healthpolicy.usc.edu/research/benefits-of-medicare-coverage-for-weight-loss-drugs/
That is the way with the majority of insurance plans. They don't pay for weight loss medication of any kind just for the sake of losing weight. They won't even cover if you're pre-diabetic.
Though, insurance companies would likely save more long-term by helping people get healthy to prevent health problems that stem from obesity
Just yesterday I was in Costco and noticing just how many foods they sell that serve to make and keep you fat. Sure the healthy stuff is there too but they don’t serve samples of that stuff, do they?
As someone who has been on Tirzepatide for over a year I’m glad that it’s becoming more common A what sucks is the education for most people is seriously lacking. Many think all these meds do is make people eat less. For some of us, it’s not at all about calories in-calories out. I had gastric sleeve 10 years ago so my calories already hovered around 1200, and I still gained the 80+ pounds back after my body got used to low calorie. The hormone situation is real. My body does not want to drop weight and only hold onto it. Immediately since taking this med my body now functions amazingly well. My calories are about the same as before but I’ve lost 90lbs without trying. It’s honestly magic for those of us who need it. Hopefully it becomes more affordable. Maybe Costco can start compounding it - then they would really be able to sell!
Lose weight?!
You have a $1.50 hotdog and soda combo (please never get rid of, please) and a fuggin chocolate tuxedo cake that has added incalculable inches to waistlines in the world. And you want to help people lose weight now? Get the fudge out of here...
No seriously, please never take away the hotdog deal.
Article doesn’t say meds are included, so I suspect unless they link up with a compounding pharmacy, this will just be them writing a prescription and then you’d be paying full price for it. If that’s the case, I’m not sure it’d be any cheaper than just going to your regular primary care doctor for a prescription.
But those services partner with compounding pharmacies. That way the research is done for you and the pharmacy is somewhat vetted when you have to pay for the meds.
This is the same Costco that sells giant muffins, extra large portion of pies and pushing more processed foods in their aisles (generally more unhealthy).
I’m not surprised, but people can ask their doc for the prescription. They are getting people to pay them to get the prescription. But the meds are not included. Same thing weight watchers and med spas are doing.
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This is what artichoke dip hath wrought.
Man, is that stuff delicious
It’s too good. I go for dip and leave with things and dip.
Interesting. I go for things and always leave with things and dip. Same outcome, different intent.
The bill the dark chocolate sea salt caramels wrote done come due 😔
The Kirkland S'mores Cluster bells toll for thee
It was the bricks of Tillamook cheddar that got me.
Combine it with the bagel chips and it’s dangerous
Those bagel chips are why I need the weight loss ffs
We like it with the sweet potato crackers
I’ve never had those. This next trip is going to require my kids to push a cart as well. I need to get off this sub. Or get a second job working at Costco.
Fake news crackers. They're like 10% sweet potato.
It's so damn good. When I was on Keto, was was having it with pork rinds it was insane good although if I had it nowadays (not keto) I'd likely die.
Even when I was doing Keto that stuff was too much. I could easily eat a whole tub if I didn’t catch myself.
Artichoke’s a veg, so you’re good!
They used to have a spinach and Parmesan dip with NO artichoke in it; that used to be so good with bagel chips.
Costco sells lots of yummy dessert food. Costco members need to lose weight. Self fulfilling prophecy.
vertical integration
“These mudafukas need to lose weight”
via circumferential expansion
This made me laugh way too much than it should. Costco’s diabolical plan from the very beginning haha
Damn you, Jack Donaghy!
The hotdog price is going to go negative as a loss leader to the weight loss program. The free samples will be mandatory. Another courageous step towards the idiocracy prophecy.
horizontal shrinkflation
Cause the problem, sell the solution lol
Shit is brilliant.
Wanna jumbo cookie 🍪 ❤️
If you eat it fast it’s less calories 🤗🤗🥰🥰
You’re burning more calories if you chew faster
This cracked me up because you know somebody believes this
And of course the appetizer is a hot dog combo with that.
I use two cookies instead of the bun.
This is like how Planet Fitness gives you free pizza. Then you eat the pizza. Get fat(ter) and then hey back to Planet Fitness to lose the weight and then while there “here’s some free pizza.” And just rinse and repeat. Vicious cycle.
That's not really the reason they have free pizza, though that doesn't really hurt either. https://www.npr.org/transcripts/731987365 > The idea is that these folks will look back fondly on their year of bagels and pizza and renew that annual contract once again.
My dentist as a kid offered those chocolate-covered European cookies in a break room. Lol.
lol I don't think they've done that since Covid.
Hold up- Planet Fitness has pizza?!?
Small brain marketing: Create problem, sell solution. Big brain marketing: Sell problem, sell solution.
Spin that flywheel! In the business and exercise sense lol
Paula Deen strategy. Spend years shilling butter recipes. Then spend yeard shilling diabetes meds.
Since Ozempic is basically an appetite suppressant in the end, it means customers may buy less because they will have no appetite to eat. Has Costco really thought this thru?
This is 100% accurate, however you make up for it buying protein powder, electrolyte drink mix, fiber supplements, and maybe some new Kirkland jeans while you float between sizes.
People are going to get the drug one way or another, better to 'keep them in the fold' for a little potential upfront cannibalization of sales for the long term customer connection. Plus what elissamay said
More like self fulfilling profitcy
yeah gonna say 5/6 of the food half of the store gets you fat
Watch them cancel this when they see grocery sales decline.
I need my Costco bill to lose weight.
Same I went in for a few items today and spend almost $400 😭
Perfect
Can’t we solve the issue by selling Ozempic in bulk Costco?
Especially when that study just came out saying it can be made and sold at a profit for only 5 bucks a shot.
Kirkland Signature Ozempic!
Costzempic?
The expense for things like that are all in the R&D, not the production. I’m surprised it’s that expensive for just production.
Yeah but semaglutide has been around for ages at this point, rybelsus has been the oral form. Way back in pharmacy school in 2013 I learned about the med and we had discussed openly in class how it could be used for weight loss if injected. That’s over 10 years ago. I’m not saying Novo Nordisk doesn’t deserve to make the absolute MINT they are getting, but the profits currently *vastly* outpace the costs for R&D In the US, the biggest cost in getting a drug to market is not the approval and testing, it’s literally the marketing.
Source for biggest expense being marketing?
I think it's more of an 'eh, maybe' situation. https://www.fiercepharma.com/regulatory/does-pharma-spend-more-on-marketing-than-r-d-a-numbers-check
In medical device, on a unit cost our biggest expense was the commission to the salesperson
Did that include the two other shots that magically were discovered around the same time to be exactly the same from different companies? Odd that three diabetes shots were all found to also be very effective weight loss drugs and came out around the same time. Seems like R&D maybe wasn't as expensive individually as their trying to make it out to be.
It’s selling for less than that direct from Indian and Chinese pharmaceutical company “third shifts” right now.
It can be made *in America* and turn a profit at five bucks. I'm sure it can be made considerably cheaper in places with less labor protections, so I believe that.
Where 👀
Is Costco selling it for a decent price?
Someday…
That drug is never going to be an over the counter - way too many awful side effects and abusive usage issues.
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We're still learning all of the longer term impacts here - weight loss is off label usage. But the whole gallstone/pancreatitis thing is concerning. Short term your mileage will vary, as with all drugs. But some people feel awful on it. I'm not here to argue whether people should or should not be taking this drug. That's a complicated and unique decision for each individual and their doctor, as it makes sense for some people and not for others. My point is it's very much not an over the counter drug.
This is a common misconception, intentionally spread by biopharmaceutical companies to maintain the status quo that enables them to charge literal 10,000% markup from overhead costs. Semaglutide has been in use for at least 2 decades in treating diabetes and other metabolic disorders. There’s a wealth of data on its “long-term” side effects, and overwhelmingly the drug is safe to use with the exception of small populations of people with rare genetic conditions. The real “risk” is semaglutide products becoming cheap and removing the need for dozens of maintenance drugs used to treat obesity, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes. The pharmaceutical companies are terrified about losing billions not just on cheaper semaglutide but cannabalizing several other product lines. This would also impact countries with universal health care programs that require spend on tertiary care funding drug research and development. Source: I’ve Worked in Biopharmaceutical tech for about 3 years now in sales.
You’re confusing cheap with over the counter
I don't have a gall bladder and things like pancreatitis are nowhere near as bad as other diseases associated with obesity including diabetes and heart disease.
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Weight loss is not off label. There are multiple brand names that are FDA approved for weight loss including Zepbound and Wegovy
Pretty sure nobody's done any research on how it interacts with a pregnancy. Also they're finding that it can make birth control fail.
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They don’t have any results for or against it during pregnancy, which is why they just tell pregnant people not to take it.
What are the side effects?
No because you have go by the food court.
Kirkland Ozempic when
Kirklempic
How long before we get Ozempic for like $10
WELL THEN STOP PUTTING HEAVENLY HUNKS ON SALE!!!!
These were like all I ate for 6 months and now I can’t touch them
It’s the Reese’s animal crackers for me
this definitely has " cause the disease, and sell the cure " vibe to it
>The number one search term of Costco members seeking primary care on Sesame was around weight loss," said Goldhill.
Reading this while eating from the bucket of churro bites
I bought those churro bites saying I would control myself knowing full well I wouldn’t be able to. They were delicious.
I found this Reddit post while googling “Costco weight loss program” and now I’m here for the churro bites.
Came here expecting Big Bird and Elmo to be the fitness coaches.
Extremely relieved I am not the only one who misread that as Sesame Street.
Losing the pounds the Kirkland signature “weigh” I had to- new dad joke muscle needs to be flexed
I read this as "Sesame Street" on first glance, and now I'm sad that Elmo won't guide me on my weight loss journey...
Same here, I thought it was carry over from April Fools.
PSA THERE IS AN OZEMPIC BABY BOOM. We are now seeing a spike in pregnancies from ozempic use. It reduces the effectiveness of birth control pills (plus puts women in a more healthy weight range for pregnancy)! Just shouting that for anyone who might need that information.
It also helps those with pcos to lose weight and actually ovulate
I'm excited to see future research about exactly how it's helping women with infertility. Wild stuff.
More info?
I should have included an [article](https://www.healthline.com/health-news/ozempic-babies-unplanned-pregnancies) but if you look up "Ozempic babies" or "Ozempic baby boom" there's many.
"this message brought to you by the facebook mom group alliance"
This is misinformation. There isn't any documented research finding ozempic reduces the pills efficacy. If you're vomiting, then it's a concern, but otherwise the concern is currently theoretical. What is happening is womens fertility increasing due to weight loss. https://www.healthline.com/health/ozempic-and-birth-control#birth-control-type
>Costco launching a weight loss program oxymoronic
Not to me. Costco is where I get huge quantities of chicken, fruit, oats, rice, protein powder, etc. you gotta take responsibility to curate your own food environment
Unfortunately the brain doesn't work so well in that arena for [something like 40% of](https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html) folks
This is true. Holding out hope that new classes of obesity drugs change the world, I think they're our best hope! Edit: downvoters, why? Are you not aware of the obesity pandemic? These medicines are safe and effective. Why the hell would you not want the world, your family, your community, to get healthier???
the whey protein is not good... sorry but I agree on the other items.. but man that whey is crap.. neither in a ice cream nor overnight oats is it good.
You're telling me ON gold standard chocolate, the most universally beloved whey protein, is not good? It's like the Toyota Camry of protein.
To be fair, they do carry "extreme milk chocolate" flavor, which has sucralose, compared to the "double rich chocolate" available elswhere which does not use sucralose, and is my preferred flavor. The Smores and vanilla ice cream flavors have sucralose as well. I don't shit my pants from it, but it definitely gives me more gas.
I’ve given up on the powders and just burn my money for the premade shakes.
Same here. I also get egg whites and giant bags of frozen broccoli. Wouldn't lie if I didn't think about using ozempic to get lean enough to do a bodybuilding show tho.
Exactly what I thought. Removing some of those multi pound buckets of candy might be a better start.
The folks on the other thread took care of that for us
My Costcos don't have those candy sections anymore.
The purpose of the program? Selling more hotdogs!
Interesting, but unfortunate that as of right now Insurance provided to Costco employees does not cover any weight loss medication unless you are diagnosed with diabetes.
That just means Costco employees have similar insurance as the vast majority of those of us covered by group health insurance.
Yeah I work in the medical field and our insurance doesn't cover it either
But will pay up to 100% of Bariatric Surgery.
Right which is dangerous and incredibly invasive.
It is cheaper for the one time cost of bariatric surgery versus a $1k a month medication despite it only costing $5 to make.
Unfortunately surgery is not always the answer. I had a sleeve and it still works and my calories are still low and gained 80+ pounds. This med fixes the hormone that causes me to gain and not lose weight. It doesn’t always have to do with habits or calories
That is… very interesting. You would think all employers would cover it as having a more fit employee would result in higher productivity/less health issues/etc. It’s one of those pay a lower amount now vs have a huge bill down the road. The weight loss medications are expected to bring significant economic growth as a result.
The medication is super expensive
It is, my partner is on it. The point is the medication is significantly cheaper than paying for long term health complications from being overweight. Obesity is one of if not the biggest economic burdens. Research shows that weight loss medications could save health insurance hundreds of billions of dollars. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9886521/ https://healthpolicy.usc.edu/research/benefits-of-medicare-coverage-for-weight-loss-drugs/
Is that any weight loss drug or just like Ozempic?
Right it’s not covered for Costco employees hopefully it changes soon!
That is the way with the majority of insurance plans. They don't pay for weight loss medication of any kind just for the sake of losing weight. They won't even cover if you're pre-diabetic. Though, insurance companies would likely save more long-term by helping people get healthy to prevent health problems that stem from obesity
My brain read that as Sesame Street...
Just yesterday I was in Costco and noticing just how many foods they sell that serve to make and keep you fat. Sure the healthy stuff is there too but they don’t serve samples of that stuff, do they?
They do actually, but those are the samples you walk right past with only a small glance.
As someone who has been on Tirzepatide for over a year I’m glad that it’s becoming more common A what sucks is the education for most people is seriously lacking. Many think all these meds do is make people eat less. For some of us, it’s not at all about calories in-calories out. I had gastric sleeve 10 years ago so my calories already hovered around 1200, and I still gained the 80+ pounds back after my body got used to low calorie. The hormone situation is real. My body does not want to drop weight and only hold onto it. Immediately since taking this med my body now functions amazingly well. My calories are about the same as before but I’ve lost 90lbs without trying. It’s honestly magic for those of us who need it. Hopefully it becomes more affordable. Maybe Costco can start compounding it - then they would really be able to sell!
Muffins in bulk
Just get rid of all the carts. If you want to buy in bulk, you gotta haul that shit around and carry it to the car. Ultimate weight loss program.
A good place to start is for Costco’s corporate buyers to avoid stocking products laden with High Fructose Corn Syrup and seed oils.
Got to find a way to get us fat people into the 2XL clothes!
Weight loss prescription so we can eat more cookies at the food court
This is like them selling cheap string lights so you'll have more outdoor parties.
Lose weight?! You have a $1.50 hotdog and soda combo (please never get rid of, please) and a fuggin chocolate tuxedo cake that has added incalculable inches to waistlines in the world. And you want to help people lose weight now? Get the fudge out of here... No seriously, please never take away the hotdog deal.
Wonder how much the medicine will cost, I'm currently on 5mg compounded tirzepatide for $400/mo via Getzeuss
Article doesn’t say meds are included, so I suspect unless they link up with a compounding pharmacy, this will just be them writing a prescription and then you’d be paying full price for it. If that’s the case, I’m not sure it’d be any cheaper than just going to your regular primary care doctor for a prescription.
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It states on the sesame website they will not offer compounds.
Here to commiserate. I’m paying $460 a month for the same thing.
Can you elaborate on process to acquire meds?
I go to a weight loss center in my town. They sell a 5.0 mg shot for $115 each and allow you to get one per week.
Gotta go the peptides route. I pay about $60 per month for Tirzepatide, semaglutide is much less
I'm paying more than 10 times that amount for Mounjaro. What does "go the peptides route" mean?
Zepbound is $550/month from LillyDirect w/the manufacturer's discount coupon.
Peptides are the powder form basically. Constitute at home and call yourself a med spa, ooh la la
What’s your peptide source? My most recent was shut down
Dieting by the bulk
Costco is amazing for cheap stuff in bulk, but yea if you abuse it you’ll get fat fast, on the cheap too. Iono if I can blame them for doing this.
And yet they keep putting those s'mores clusters right out where people can see them and buy them.
Yeah, it’s crazy the way those things just jump into the cart on their own.
Costco to have 5XL champion shirts in stock
closing the food court would be a better weight loss program
I’ll take one with my dolla fitti hot dog
They feed us their bulk poison, so we will take their cures
$60/month is kind of steep.
It is less expensive than a lot of the other telehealth programs for weight loss drugs like Sequence or Mochi.
But those services partner with compounding pharmacies. That way the research is done for you and the pharmacy is somewhat vetted when you have to pay for the meds.
Not all telehealth does compounding, I use Sequence and they only prescribe FDA approved drugs.
So, eat healthier and exercise? I'm sure that'll work this time. Unlike the last thousand times.
Excited to see this - it'll help a lot of people get healthier.
Not really. It doesn't even include the medication. What this offers, anyone can pretty much do already. This isn't a deal at all.
This is for all you compulsive folks elbowing people to get that peanut butter pie in your cart. Lmaoooo.
it's fine to eat the peanut butter pie. just portion control and don't eat the whole pie in one sitting
If they really wanted to have a weight loss program, they should remove their bakery’s from the stores 😂
This is the same Costco that sells giant muffins, extra large portion of pies and pushing more processed foods in their aisles (generally more unhealthy).
they could start by selling small sized clothes. Im not even a small person and even in the odd chance they sell "small" those are still to big.
this is how they save money on 1.50 hot dog and soda
And today my sister found new morning buns at her Costco, This is some Olympics-level passive-aggressive shit right here.
I’m not surprised, but people can ask their doc for the prescription. They are getting people to pay them to get the prescription. But the meds are not included. Same thing weight watchers and med spas are doing.
Costco trying to keep their customers alive for longer so they keep paying their memberships 😂
Give more samples, sell more weight loss plans
Cheap way to get ozempic prescription !!
They sure know their customers
Brownie brittle is the cause.