Oral GLP-1s Expand Obesity Treatment Options in 2026

In an interview with Pharmacy Times, Jennifer Goldman, PharmD, RPh, CDCES, BC-ADM, FCCP, professor of pharmacy practice at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and director of cardiometabolic services at WellLife Medical, discussed how pharmacists can counsel patients on glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist therapies and where obesity pharmacotherapy is heading in 2026. The discussion took place during a Pharmacy Times Continuing Education panel. Goldman emphasized that setting expectations before a patient starts therapy is the single most important counseling step, because patients often arrive with preconceived notions shaped by others’ dramatic weight loss. She noted that success depends on helping patients understand that results take time and that gastrointestinal side effects are possible, which is why clinicians start at a low dose and titrate slowly.

To improve tolerability and persistence, Goldman counsels patients to eat less, take smaller and more frequent meals, and prioritize good nutrition—protein first, but still incorporating fruits and vegetables. She frames obesity as a chronic disease and reminds patients that the goal is health, not a number on the scale, noting that treatment can improve a range of metabolic issues. Looking at 2026, Goldman identified the arrival of oral GLP-1 medications as a major development, giving clinicians an option beyond injectables and allowing more individualized treatment. She anticipates a future pipeline with more diverse mechanisms and hormone targets, including triple agonists and amylin-based agents, that may be more effective, easier to use, and potentially better tolerated. For pharmacists, her message centers on proactive, realistic counseling paired with nutrition guidance.