Obesity

New expert guidance urges wider use of effective obesity medications

March 13, 2026

A new joint guidance statement from The Obesity Society, Obesity Medicine Association, and Obesity Action Coalition outlines GRADE‑based recommendations for FDA‑approved anti‑obesity medications, emphasizing their role in long‑term, person‑centered obesity care. The expert panel conducted a systematic evidence review and issued strong recommendations for agents such as bupropion‑naltrexone, semaglutide, tirzepatide, and setmelanotide, supported by moderate‑certainty data. Conditional recommendations address additional therapies and specific obesity‑related conditions, including obstructive sleep apnea, HFpEF, steatotic liver disease/MASH, and osteoarthritis. The statement underscores that obesity is a chronic, progressive disease requiring sustained treatment and recommends continuing pharmacotherapy into the weight‑maintenance phase.

Clinical takeaway: Consider initiating or continuing evidence‑supported pharmacologic therapy—particularly semaglutide, tirzepatide, or bupropion‑naltrexone—for adults with overweight or obesity as part of comprehensive, long‑term management.

Source:

Alexander L, et al. (2026, January 6). Obesity. Joint TOS/OMA/OAC Expert Guidance Statement on the Pharmacological Management of United States Adults With Overweight or Obesity Using the GRADE Approach. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41782434/