Kourtney Kardashian Barker, known for her presence on reality TV and her wellness-focused lifestyle, has expanded her entrepreneurial ventures into the world of supplements.
Her brand, Lemme, which launched in September 2022, offers a line of gummy vitamins that promise various wellness benefits —from helping you relax with Lemme Chill to boosting concentration with Lemme Focus.
Now, the brand is entering a more controversial and trending space: weight management.
The latest addition, Lemme GLP-1 Daily, is marketed as an herbal alternative to GLP-1 agonists — prescription drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy that have gained massive popularity for their weight-loss effects.
While these medications have been lauded for their ability to help people shed pounds, they have also sparked debate over their side effects and the ethics of their widespread use.
Kardashian Barker now joins the conversation by offering a non-prescription supplement she claims could help manage hunger and cravings without the downsides of prescription drugs.
But is this new product just another hype or does it have real potential?
What are GLP-1 agonists?
GLP-1 agonists, including drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound, are part of a class of medications that have transformed the weight-loss industry. These drugs contain active ingredients — such as semaglutide and tirzepatide — that mimic the hormone GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1).
This hormone plays a critical role in regulating hunger by telling the brain when you're full, which in turn helps reduce overeating. It also helps balance blood sugar, making it a popular choice for people with type 2 diabetes.
For individuals struggling with obesity, GLP-1 agonists have shown remarkable results. After years of clinical trials, these drugs have been approved by the FDA, demonstrating their effectiveness and safety.
However, they come with notable side effects, including nausea, gastrointestinal issues, and, in some cases, more severe complications. Despite this, demand for these drugs has soared, making them hot commodities in the $76 billion diet industry.
Lemme GLP-1 Daily positions itself as a natural, over-the-counter alternative to these weight-loss drugs. The supplement, set to be available for $72 a month with a subscription, claims to contain herbal ingredients that may enhance the body's natural production of GLP-1.
According to the brand, this could help reduce hunger and cravings, supporting healthy weight management over time. The promise of a natural solution, without the severe side effects associated with prescription drugs, is undoubtedly appealing.
However, there is an important distinction between Lemme GLP-1 Daily and prescription GLP-1 agonists: the supplement is not FDA-approved. Supplements, unlike pharmaceutical drugs, do not go through rigorous clinical trials to prove their efficacy or safety.
Instead, it’s up to the companies themselves to ensure their products are safe, but they are not required to prove any scientific benefit before they hit the market.
In a statement to “Business Insider”, the brand emphasised that the supplement’s ingredients had been tested in humans.
While the supplement may boost natural GLP-1 production, there’s little conclusive evidence that these herbal ingredients can effectively manage weight loss in the same way prescription drugs do.
Speaking to Vogue Dr Kathleen Valenton, Kardashian Barker's personal doctor and part of the medical team behind Lemme’s supplement, has helped develop a formula based on three plant-based ingredients: Eriomin lemon fruit extract, Supresa saffron extract, and Morosil red orange fruit extract.
According to Dr Caroline Messer and Dr Kumar, who regularly prescribe weight loss drugs, these natural ingredients show some promise. For example, Eriomin and Morosil have been studied and found to impact pathways similar to GLP-1, which is involved in regulating appetite.
However, the doctors remain cautious, noting that these ingredients haven't been extensively tested together or compared to synthetic alternatives used in conventional weight loss treatments.
Kardashian Barker, in an interview with Vogue, explained her reasoning behind launching Lemme GLP-1 Daily. She acknowledged the benefits of GLP-1 medications, noting that they have been “helpful to so many people.”
However, she also pointed out the downsides, particularly the side effects, which include extreme nausea and digestive issues.
Kardashian Barker said she received numerous direct messages from people asking for a gentler alternative, which spurred her and her team to explore a solution.
“For me, this product was never just about weight loss,” Kardashian Barker told Vogue. Kardashian Barker adds that she hasn’t tried the supplement herself because it’s not approved for individuals who are currently breastfeeding.”
For many consumers, Kardashian Barker’s endorsement lends credibility to the product. She has built a brand around wellness and clean living, which resonates with a broad audience.
But at the same time, her involvement also highlights a larger trend: the merging of celebrity influence with the booming wellness and supplement industry.
Consumers are increasingly turning to celebrity-backed products, often without realising that these products do not have the same regulatory oversight as pharmaceuticals.