Weight loss start-up Habitual gains pounds from funding boost | Money News

A start-up which champions sustainable weight loss has landed a seven-figure sum from blue-chip backers as it seeks to capitalise on the explosive growth of prescription drugs such as Wegovy.

Sky News has learnt that Habitual, which is run by co-founder Napala Pratini, has secured £1m in a funding round led by Lexham Partners, a prominent investor in early-stage companies.

The fundraising, which will be announced later this week, comes during a period of rapid growth in the market for weight loss programmes and medication.

Habitual offers consumers products including meal replacement shakes and soups, and personalised advice on their weight loss regimes.

It also prescribes Wegovy, the medication made by Novo Nordisk and which competes with rival products such as Ozempic.

Some estimates suggest the global market for weight loss medications is forecast to reach $150bn in sales during the coming years.

Professor Sneh Khemka, a seasoned healthcare entrepreneur, has joined Habitual as chairman alongside the fundraising.

“With over half a million people in the UK now using GLP-1 medications and the NHS funding weight loss programmes for patients with type 2 diabetes, it’s clear that we are in a transformational time for metabolic health,” Ms Pratini said.

“This funding allows us to accelerate the development of our holistic, science-backed solutions that go beyond just medication – ensuring that people have the long-term support they need to sustain real, lasting health improvements.”

Professor Khemka said Habitual was “helping thousands of people to lose weight in a responsible and sustained manner, and supporting the NHS to reverse type 2 diabetes in those most in need”.