Future Prospects of GLP-1–Based Biopharmaceuticals in Obesity and Diabetes Management: A Food and Biotechnology Perspective

The global rise in obesity and type 2 diabetes has intensified interest in glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)–based biopharmaceuticals as transformative metabolic therapies. While these agents demonstrate substantial efficacy in glycemic control, weight reduction, and cardiovascular risk mitigation, their long-term population-level impact depends on broader behavioural, food system, and policy contexts. This study explores the prospects of GLP-1–based therapies from an integrated food and biotechnology perspective using a qualitative research design. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with experts in endocrinology, nutrition science, biotechnology, and public health policy, followed by thematic analysis. Findings indicate that technological innovation—such as oral formulations and multi-agonist molecules—may improve scalability and patient acceptance, but sustainable outcomes require concurrent dietary quality improvement, supportive food environments, and healthcare system integration. Participants emphasised that pharmacotherapy facilitates but does not replace behavioural change and that inequitable access and regulatory fragmentation remain major barriers. The study concludes that GLP-1–based biopharmaceuticals should be embedded within interdisciplinary metabolic health strategies that align pharmaceutical innovation with nutrition policy and food system reform. Such alignment is essential for achieving durable and equitable reductions in metabolic disease burden worldwide. Keywords: GLP-1 receptor agonists; obesity mana