Viridian has launched a new nutrition-led programme designed to support appetite control and longer-term weight management through dietary guidance and plant-based supplementation.

The programme centres on Viridian’s Weight Support Complex, a supplement formulated with plant extracts associated with appetite regulation and metabolic health. Ingredients include carob, cinnamon, olive fruit and turmeric extracts. Carob in particular, the company says, has been studied for its potential to help reduce appetite and increase feelings of fullness.

Alongside the supplement, the programme includes an 84-page guide developed by nutritionists. The guide combines practical advice on eating habits with 28 recipes intended to support balanced nutrition. Recipes emphasise fibre, plant protein and whole foods, with dishes such as chickpea and lentil laksa and a Mediterranean-style halloumi and aubergine traybake.

The launch comes amid continuing concerns about rising rates of overweight and obesity in England. Data from the Health Survey for England 2022 show that the proportion of adults classified as overweight or obese increased from 52.9% in 1993 to 64.3% in 2022, placing sustained pressure on the healthcare system.

Aimee Benbow, director of nutrition at Viridian, said the programme was developed in response to growing consumer interest in non-pharmaceutical approaches to weight management. She noted that combining supplementation with practical dietary guidance may help people establish more sustainable eating patterns.

Benbow said the formulation was designed to work alongside meals that provide a balance of fibre and protein, which can help maintain stable blood sugar levels and support sustained energy throughout the day.

NHS GP Dr Siobhan Brennan highlighted the importance of making positive diet and lifestyle choices for sustainable long-term weight management. Dr Brennan said: 

“We are a lot less active generally, and our busy schedules mean that our nutrition and our food choices are way down the line when we’re emotionally exhausted from our day’s activities.

“With the rise in the use of the GLP-1 medications, certainly as physicians, we’re still rapidly learning about all far-reaching consequences and side effects that they can have. They’ve been very, very powerful at normalising the narrative and promoting a more open discussion about what weight means to us without demonising.”