Therapies based on GLP-1 receptor agonists: significance, challenges, and opportunities

The Lancet Global Health 2026 Open access

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Authors: Angela Jackson-Morris, Bruno Halpern, Giulia Segafredo, Louise Alison Baur, Karen Sealey, Robert F Kushner, Laurence Sperling, Hillary Mutungi, Peter Schwarz, Kent Buse, Johanna Ralston
DOI: 10.1016/s2214-109x(26)00009-4
Cited by: 1
References: 6

Abstract

For decades, escalating global obesity prevalence and evidence of its major contribution to the most common causes of death and ill health was, at best, confined to discussions of prevention, and, at worst, stigmatised and ignored in policy, practice, and the media. However, the landscape has evolved rapidly with the use of therapies based on GLP-1 receptor agonists to treat obesity. Landmark developments in 2025 include the WHO global guideline recommending two GLP-1 receptor agonists for obesity care,1 and the inclusion of GLP-1 receptor agonists in the WHO Essential Medicines List to treat people living with obesity and diabetes and either cardiovascular or kidney disease.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Diabetes Treatment and Management Regulation of Appetite and Obesity Metabolism Diabetes and Cancer

Publication details

Journal / source
The Lancet Global Health
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Volume
14
Issue
4
Pages
e488–e489
Publication date
25 February 2026
Language
EN