NFL legend Tom Brady is entering the booming GLP-1 weight-loss market, valued at a projected $150 billion, not with a product, but with a message of discipline and personal accountability, drawing from his “TB12” methods. In an exclusive interview on “Mornings with Maria,” Brady highlighted his desire to “share some of the things that have been in my mind that I’ve learned from incredible mentors…that have helped me kind of live my dream, and I want to do that for others.”
Brady has partnered with eMed and its CEO, Linda Yaccarino, announcing a $200 million funding round that values the digital health company at over $2 billion. Their goal is to transform population health by offering employers AI-driven and clinically-backed GLP-1 weight-loss solutions like Ozempic and Mounjaro, with the aim of reducing corporate insurance claims.
Yaccarino stated, “The raise confirms immense momentum and establishes us as the definitive company for population health and helping employers break the runaway health care costs and break their cost curve.” She noted that healthcare costs for overweight or obese individuals are double the average, a problem eMed aims to solve.
Brady sees the eMed platform as a means to support those who may lack the innate willpower to manage their health, emphasizing that medication should complement clinical support and personal responsibility. He stated, “This isn’t about shortcuts for anybody. This is about a well-delivered program for people to kick-start their health journey in certain ways.”
Brady also aims to “break the stigma around the fact that, you know, discipline and hard work and willpower are something that… we’re born with.” He acknowledges that many people struggle with these aspects and need support.
Reflecting on his own career, Brady detailed the rigorous maintenance his body required: “I realized because I was an athlete, my body was my asset… I had to treat my body, you know, a very certain way. I tried to get a lot of muscle work to repair injured tissue. I hydrated all the time. I tried to eat a low inflammatory diet. I tried to get the proper rest.”
Yaccarino, formerly CEO of X Corp, aims to apply Brady’s disciplined approach to the American workforce, reducing chronic diseases. According to Yaccarino, “Ninety-percent of people stay on our program… First, and most important… they get healthier… that’s the secret sauce for employers… because they get their return on their investment.”