Five Trends to Define 2026 in Obesity, Nutrition, and Health
The slate is clean. All is forgiven. We have a fresh new year ahead. So that has us thinking about the trends that are likely to define 2026 in obesity, nutrition, and health.
Here are five that floated to the top of our mind.
1. Healthy Weight for Life
We have said it before. Weight loss is easy in comparison to actual obesity care for the long term. It is one thing to lose weight – a little or a lot. But it is altogether something else to maintain a healthier weight for a lifetime. That is quite a different and harder challenge.
But we see a real shift coming in 2026 toward more focus on weight health and a little less on simple weight loss. There are new indications coming for obesity drugs – like prevention of osteoarthritis and improvements in health for persons with obesity and heart failure.
On top of that, new oral medicines – Wegovy tablets and orforglipron tablets – will likely be launched with great fanfare and positioned specifically for long-term maintenance of healthy weight. This will be a defining trend in 2026 and for years to come.
2. Fragmentation in Public Health
The lost credibility of CDC means that the voice of public health will become fragmented even more in 2026. People are already gearing up to fight about ill-informed dietary guidance that is more likely to reflect political dogma than nutrition science.
3. A New Environment for Ultra-Processed Foods
We’re not done with demonizing ultra-processed foods. Health policy in the U.S. is already dialing this up. But what will truly be different is the viability of an ultra-processed food environment that is built around a strategy of promoting endless, mindless consumption. It is becoming plain that this does not work as well when people are taking advanced obesity medicines. In 2026, we expect that the effects of GLP-1 on food marketing and the food environment will become more evident.
4. Even More Advanced Obesity Medicines
On December 18, CagriSema went to FDA for approval, which means that a launch in 2026 is possible. A submission to FDA for approval to launch retatrutide for obesity in the U.S. is possible in 2026, but Lilly has not committed to this. Beyond those two medicines entering the final stretch for market availability, a dizzying array of new drugs is racing toward the market and will undoubtedly generate a lot of buzz in the coming year.
5. Evolving Health Systems for Obesity Care
It’s great to have options for obesity care. But it is a whole other challenge to gear up systems for delivering it at a scale that will meet the medical need that exists. If you have turned on your television this week, you have likely faced a barrage of telehealth advertising for obesity and weight loss. Some of the services on offer have integrity. For others, it is not so obvious. But what is obvious is that the unmet need is tremendous and telehealth will likely be part of the solution. Processes for delivering obesity care in primary care settings are also getting a lot of attention. This will be a critical area of focus for health policymakers in 2026.
Happy New Year!
Kitsunebi on New Year’s Night Under the Enoki Tree near Ōji, woodblock print by Hiroshige / WikiArt
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January 1, 2026
