The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted approval to Signos's continuous glucose monitoring system, marking the first-ever CGM specifically authorized for weight management beyond diabetes care. The approval establishes a new consumer option for Americans seeking weight loss support, extending access to glucose monitoring technology previously limited to diabetes patients.
Expanding Access Beyond Traditional Weight Loss Treatments
Current weight loss treatment options, including popular GLP-1 medications like Novo Nordisk's Wegovy and Eli Lilly's Zepbound, are typically restricted to patients with obesity or specific BMI thresholds. These drugs can also be difficult to access due to high costs, limited insurance coverage, and supply constraints. The Signos system removes these barriers, allowing any patient to purchase a membership and access the technology.
"There is now a solution that everybody can use to help on the weight loss journey, and you don't have to be a certain number of pounds to use it. It's available for the average American who needs it," said Sharam Fouladgar-Mercer, Signos' co-founder and CEO. "The average person might have five pounds to lose, or others might have 100 pounds to lose. We are here to help them at any point in that journey."
Technology and Pricing Structure
The Signos system combines an AI platform with Dexcom's off-the-shelf continuous glucose monitor to deliver personalized, real-time data and lifestyle recommendations. The small sensors, worn on the upper arm, track glucose levels and wirelessly transmit data to Signos' smartphone app, where users can also log food intake and exercise patterns.
Customers can choose between three-month or six-month plans, priced at $139 and $129 respectively. These costs represent a fraction of the roughly $1,000 monthly price of GLP-1 medications in the U.S. While insurers don't currently cover the system for weight management, Signos is working with health insurance companies and employers to secure coverage, expecting "this to evolve quickly as interest for tackling weight continued to expand."
Addressing the Obesity Crisis
The approval comes as obesity represents a significant public health challenge, with almost 74% of Americans classified as overweight or obese according to government data. The obesity epidemic costs the U.S. healthcare system more than $170 billion annually, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. Fouladgar-Mercer expressed hope that Signos can make a "real big dent in that curve for the betterment of many of us."
Real-Time Metabolic Insights
Unlike basic calorie-tracking applications, the glucose monitoring system provides users with immediate feedback on how specific foods, workouts, stress, and sleep patterns affect their blood sugar levels. This personalized metabolic data reveals which meals may cause energy crashes or trigger cravings, enabling users to optimize their dietary choices accordingly.
The technology leverages the established connection between stable blood sugar and better appetite control, reduced cravings, and decreased fat storage. Users can track their body's actual response to different dietary approaches, from intermittent fasting to low-carb or Mediterranean diets.
Integration with Existing Treatments
The Signos system can be used in combination with GLP-1 medications or bariatric surgery, according to Fouladgar-Mercer. Patients can also utilize the system after discontinuing GLP-1 treatments to maintain their weight loss, providing a bridge for long-term weight management.
Market Readiness and Scale
While Signos did not disclose current user numbers, Fouladgar-Mercer reported that tens of thousands of people have already tried the system over time. Following FDA approval, the company has scaled up its CGM inventory and software capacity to "handle a pretty massive scale."
The approval represents part of a broader trend toward personalized, preventative health technology, though medical professionals note that glucose levels represent only one component of the weight-loss equation, alongside calorie balance, hormones, and lifestyle factors.
