The Future of Obesity Care: New Medications and Technology

Managing obesity is changing. In the past, weight loss advice often focused mainly on eating less and exercising more.¹ Today, we doctors have more tools to help people manage their weight, including new medicines, personalized eating plans, behavioral support, and digital technologies.

The goal is not simply to lose weight quickly. It is to improve health and find a plan that can be followed for the long term.

New-Generation Medications:

One of the biggest developments in obesity care is the use of GLP-1 medicines.  

GLP-1 therapies (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists) are a class of medications that help regulate blood sugar and appetite. They were originally used for managing type 2 diabetes, but are now also approved for treating obesity and weight loss. ²

How do these medicines work?

These medicines work on natural signals in the body that help control hunger and fullness. They can make you feel full sooner, reduce appetite, and slow the movement of food through the stomach.³

Common side effects of GLP-1 medicines can include nausea, vomiting, constipation, and diarrhoea. These symptoms are often mild and may improve over time, but patients should discuss troublesome or persistent symptoms with their healthcare professional.²

Now, because these medicines may reduce hunger and the amount of food you eat, the quality of your food becomes even more important. When taking a GLP-1 medicine, you may feel less hungry or eat smaller portions. This makes it important to choose foods that provide plenty of nutrients in the amount you eat. ³

Try to include:

·       Fruits and vegetables such as leafy greens, apples, and tomatoes

·       Lean protein such as fish, chicken, tofu, and beans

·       Whole grains such as oats, quinoa, and farro

Two nutrients deserve special attention: protein and fiber, They both help keep you feeling full longer and stabilize blood sugar. Protein keeps your body from losing muscle instead of fat. And fiber can help combat constipation that a GLP-1 can cause. ³

However, these medicines are not suitable for everyone. A doctor will consider your health, other medicines, medical history, possible side effects, and other factors before recommending them.

Importantly, weight-loss medicines are not a replacement for healthy eating or physical activity. They work best when they are part of a broader weight-management plan.²,³

Always Remember, Weight-loss medicines can be an additional tool — not the whole treatment.

Digital Tools: Bringing Obesity Care Closer to Patients

Technology is becoming an important part of weight management. Telehealth, mobile health apps, and wearable devices can make it easier for people to access obesity care, track their progress, and stay connected with their healthcare team. These enhance the quality, efficiency and cost-effectiveness of weight management interventions and long-term patient support. ⁴

Mobile health apps and wearable devices can help people keep track of different aspects of their daily routine. Depending on the device or app, you may be able to monitor⁴:

• Body weight
• Physical activity
• Steps taken
• Food and eating habits

This information can help patients understand their daily habits and discuss their progress with their healthcare team.

In the future, apps, wearable devices, chatbots, and artificial intelligence (AI) may work together to provide reminders, answer basic questions, offer encouragement, and provide support based on an individual's needs. ⁴

Personalized Nutrition: Moving Beyond “One Diet Fits All”

Another important development is the move towards personalized nutrition.

For many years, weight management has focused mainly on the idea of “calories in, calories out”—balancing the calories we eat with the calories our body uses. While this remains an important part of weight management, the same diet may not work equally well for everyone.⁵

People differ in many ways, including their body composition, metabolism, genes, hormone levels, physical activity, sleep, stress, and eating habits. These differences can affect how the body responds to food and how easily a person loses or maintains weight.⁵

This is where personalized nutrition comes in.

What is personalized nutrition?

Personalized nutrition means adapting eating advice to an individual's health, lifestyle, food preferences, daily routine, and nutritional needs, rather than following the same diet plan as everyone else. ⁵

A diet that fits your lifestyle is more likely to be practical and easier to follow over time. Personalized nutrition may also help people feel more involved in their treatment and motivated to make lasting changes.⁵

The goal is not to find a “perfect diet” for everyone. Instead, it is to find an eating pattern that provides the nutrients you need, supports your health, and can realistically become part of your everyday life.

The Future: A More Personalized Approach

The future of obesity care is likely to be integrated and individualized. A patient may receive medication selected according to their clinical needs, nutritional guidance adapted to their appetite and treatment response, and digital monitoring that allows healthcare professionals to follow progress over time. 

A simple way to understand this approach is:

Together, these approaches can help us move beyond simply focusing on weight loss and towards better health, sustainable weight management, and long-term care.

References:

1.     National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Eating & physical activity to lose or maintain weight. Bethesda (MD): National Institutes of Health.
Open NIDDK page

2.     World Health Organization (WHO). Obesity: GLP-1 therapies. Geneva: WHO; 2025.
Open WHO GLP-1 information

3.     Cleveland Clinic. GLP-1 diet guidance. Cleveland (OH): Cleveland Clinic.
Open Cleveland Clinic page

4.     Hinchliffe N, Capehorn MS, Bewick M, Feenie J. The Potential Role of Digital Health in Obesity Care. Adv Ther. 2022;39(10):4397-4412. doi:10.1007/s12325-022-02265-4

5. Cozma-Petruț A, Gherghel M, Banc R, Badiu Tișa I, Mîrza O, Coldea TE, Mudura E, Miere D, Filip L. Beyond One-Size-Fits-All: Individually Tailored Dietary Interventions in Modern Obesity Care. Nutrients. 2026; 18(16):2691. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18162691