Mend Expands Upgraid™ to Address Obesity-Related Surgical Barriers and Drive Long-Term Wellness

New Pathways Deliver Greater Patient Impact, Clinical Results, and Value for Providers

NEW YORK, June 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Mend, the leader in clinically validated perioperative nutrition and digital care, today unveiled a major expansion of the Upgraid^™ platform, a surgical wellness program combining remote monitoring and evidence-based nutrition. Upgraid is introducing powerful new capabilities designed to support patients struggling with obesity and weight-related surgical barriers. This next generation leverages clinical expertise and AI-driven insights to deliver greater clinical precision, improved patient outcomes, and meaningful value for surgeons and their practices.

Numerous clinical studies have linked obesity and comorbidities as some of the leading factors contributing to complications and risk of poor outcomes in surgery. And both obesity and comorbidities have significant impacts on surgical delays and cancellations, particularly in orthopedic procedures. Many patients with elevated BMI are told they must lose weight before they can proceed with surgery, but few are given the tools to succeed. The enhanced Upgraid program now bridges this critical gap.

The Upgraid expansion introduces two dedicated care pathways that align to patient needs:

• Ignite Pathway: A focused, structured track with remote monitoring to improve surgical readiness and address sustainable weight loss post-operatively through clinical nutrition, inflammation control, lean mass preservation, and behavior change support.
  
  
• Nourished Pathway: A higher-acuity care model providing intensive RD-led coaching, nutrapharma-grade supplementation, and remote monitoring for patients who need help overcoming weight-related surgical delays.

"Our mission is simple—make sure weight and poor nutrition are never a barrier to healing. A surgical episode is one of the rare moments when patients are highly motivated and fully engaged in their health," said Paul Roscoe, CEO of Mend. "We see it as a teachable moment—an inflection point that can drive not just better recovery, but lifelong behavioral change. Upgraid is built to turn that moment into lasting momentum."

At the core of Upgraid is Mend's integrated model, which combines clinically validated nutritional protocols with real-time remote patient monitoring and behavioral health coaching. The platform improves key biomarkers, enhances healing, and reduces complication risk while integrating seamlessly into clinical workflows. Patients receive weight loss support through a structured, digitally delivered care experience enhanced by agile AI insights and supported in real time by registered dietitians and care navigators. This is complemented by Mend's nutrapharma supplements, which are clinically proven to improve healing.

"We have been utilizing the Upgraid program for a few years now and are very pleased with the impact. This enhancement and the addition of the Ignite care pathway will expand support for the patients who need it most. We're very proud to support the program and make it available to all of our patients."
— Andrew Wickline MD

"Mend exemplifies the best in perioperative care. We have seen the results first hand in our practice. With evidence-based nutrition as a foundation and extended support for patients dealing with obesity and/or chronic conditions, we are proud to participate in the expansion of Upgraid."
— Paul Jacob, MD

Already trusted by leaders such as Geisinger, OrthoLoneStar, and the U.S. Department of Defense, Mend's platforms, backed by science, are built for clinical rigor and operational scalability. For providers, the expanded platform reduces cancellations, supports better outcomes, and integrates easily into existing workflows.

The enhanced Upgraid program reaffirms Mend's commitment to helping every patient—regardless of their starting point—achieve better healing and sustainable, positive health changes. Patients in Upgraid feel more supported, with 93% rating the program as better overall compared to their previous healthcare experiences. Further, a survey of over 1,300 patients found that 93% want their doctor to guide their nutrition and recovery. Patients are not only ready for this kind of care, but they are also actively seeking it and expect more when choosing care providers.

"With this new chapter for Upgraid, we're solving a real-world problem that providers see every day—patients stuck in limbo, told to lose weight or change their approach to nutrition, but lacking the tools or guidance to do so," added Roscoe. "Now, those same patients can be engaged, empowered, and moved forward—faster, healthier, and with confidence. Upgraid gives providers a turnkey, scalable way to engage patients earlier, improve readiness, and support recovery. It's a clinical, operational, and economic win."

About Mend

Mend is a life sciences company that is passionate about bringing the power of healing to people everywhere. Operating at the intersection of nutrapharma, food as medicine, and digital behavioral health, Mend helps and enables people who want to repair, recover, and return to life faster and better. The Mend nutrapharma products are clinically proven, science-backed, and recognized by the medical community to be effective in accelerating repair, recovery, and improving key risk factors contributing to chronic conditions. Integrated with real-time one-on-one coaching and monitoring, the Mend platform pushes the paradigm of digital wellness. Driven to improve societal health and bridge the gap between human health and human nature, Mend works with leading hospitals and universities on developing evidence-based programs to enhance patient outcomes. Mend is the world's first whole-person, nutrapharma-powered platform used by elite soldiers, athletes, and professional teams, and is endorsed by many of the country's most respected doctors, surgeons, and health systems.

To learn more about Upgraid^™ by Mend, visit https://upgraid.mend.me

Media Contact:
Kathryn Smart
VP, Marketing
[email protected]

SOURCE Mend Labs