Sam Wood Launches Ollo as GLP-1 Weight Loss Boom Reshapes Wellness
Synopsis
Fitness entrepreneur Sam Wood has launched telehealth startup Ollo for Women, combining medical advice, weight management treatment and lifestyle coaching as demand for GLP-1 weight loss medications continues to grow.
Sam Wood Ollo GLP-1 is the Australian fitness entrepreneur's newest business venture and his leap from digital fitness to telehealth comes at a time when GLP-1 weight loss medicines are transforming the way obesity is managed in Australia and beyond.
Wood, co-founder of 28 by Sam Wood, an online fitness company, explained that Ollo for Women has been designed to be a blend of medical advice, nutrition, exercise and behavioural coaching. He said that his understanding of GLP-1 treatments has shifted to viewing them as a tool that can assist those with chronic obesity to address the obstacles to healthier lifestyles, not a substitute for diet and exercise.
The launch coincides with a global surge in the demand for such medications as Ozempic and Wegovy. It is estimated that over one billion people in the world are obese, and the World Health Organization (WHO) states that medicines for weight management should be used in combination with lifestyle interventions, if appropriate, and not as a treatment in isolation.
From Digital Fitness to Healthcare Services
Sam Wood Ollo GLP-1, on the other hand, is a departure from the Wood's previous fitness-focused business model. His signature offering 28 by Sam Wood has swelled to over 100,000 active subscribers, before getting scooped up by myDNA in 2022 for around A$71 million.
As the business expanded, it needed to grow beyond the entrepreneur and showcase new leadership as the business executive, Wood said. Prior to building 28, Sam Wood is also the founder of Gecko Sports and The Woodshed, giving him an even stronger foothold in the health and fitness industry in Australia.
The GLP-1 segment is one of the fastest growing in the healthcare industry. According to industry analysts at Grand View Research, the global obesity treatment market will continue to grow over the next decade, as the market for prescription drugs continues to rise alongside the growing focus on health management services.
Personal Experience Continues to Shape the Business
The death of his mother at age 15, had an impact on Wood's decision to enter a career in health and wellbeing. Experience has continued to influence his mentoring practice and his curiosity to support individuals to build sustainable health behaviours, he said.
He said the exposure he gained from being on The Bachelor Australia in 2015 also led to a number of business and personal opportunities. With his wife, Snezana, and four daughters, balancing work and family life is a key consideration for Sam Wood Ollo GLP-1 as he moves into Australia's growing telehealth and weight-management market.
Source: Smart Company & YouTube
Follow Inspirepreneur Magazine for daily global business news.
Pooja Malik is a business journalist with over six years of experience covering startups, entrepreneurship, and emerging trends. She has previously worked with leading media platforms such as YourStory Media and BW BusinessWorld, where she reported on business, policy, and market developments. Currently, she serves as Editor at The Inspirepreneur Magazine, where she writes and edits stories across business, lifestyle, and travel, with a focus on clarity, accuracy, and reader relevance.
You Might Also Like
Google Cuts 200 Staff as Focus Shifts to AI and Data Centres
How Are Flexible Workspaces Transforming Australia’s Commercial Real Estate?
