Leading Obesity Experts Deem Obesity Medications as Safe and Effective

Leading obesity experts from the Obesity Society (TOS), the Obesity Medicine Association, and the Obesity Action Coalition officially affirmed that obesity medications are safe, effective, and appropriate for long-term use. This new guidance, released in March 2026, aims to provide clarity for millions of Americans by reinforcing that these treatments are not temporary fixes but foundational components of chronic disease management.¹

For the pharmacy profession, this marks a significant shift in the treatment paradigm, as experts emphasize that medications should no longer be viewed as optional add-ons to lifestyle changes but as evidence-based tools that improve both health complications and overall quality of life.

“Obesity is a chronic, often progressive, disease, and medications are no longer optional add-ons to lifestyle recommendations,” Jonathan Purnell, MD, FTOS, vice president of TOS and co-lead author, said in a news release. “For many patients, they are a foundational part of care that improves not only weight, but also complications such as sleep apnea and cardiovascular disease. Our hope is that this guidance statement will help patients establish expectations of their providers that obesity medication choices are included as part of their comprehensive obesity care discussions.”

The guidance is supported by a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of 154 randomized controlled trials involving over 112,000 participants, which highlights that while multiple options exist, their efficacy and safety profiles vary significantly. Tirzepatide has emerged as the most potent option for weight reduction, followed by semaglutide.²

Beyond weight loss, tirzepatide demonstrates the strongest benefits for cardiometabolic health, including superior reductions in blood pressure, fasting glucose, and triglycerides. For pharmacists counseling patients with high cardiovascular risk, the data also shows that semaglutide and liraglutide offer a critical clinical advantage by significantly reducing the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events.

However, the rapid rise in popularity of these treatments has brought new challenges to the pharmacy counter. Medical experts are raising alarms regarding the growing trend of using these medications for cosmetic weight loss or as preventatives in individuals who do not meet clinical criteria for obesity or type 2 diabetes. This off-label use, often fueled by social media influencers, poses substantial public safety risks and has contributed to global supply shortages for the patients who need them most. Reports indicate that people without obesity using these treatments for rapid weight loss have experienced serious adverse effects (AE), including disordered eating behavior, psychological dependence, and emergency hospitalizations.³

“The hard thing about [marketing] is [GLP-1s have] certainly alerted potential patients to the medication. There are varying degrees of clinical parameters that patients should meet to be on these medications,” Rae McMahan, senior vice president of payor solutions at Prescryptive Health, said.⁴ “One thing that I am lacking to see, and I would really love to see someone do this, is a correlation between those that meet the clinical endpoints for that—meaning they meet the [body mass index] requirements primarily, sleep apnea, and other comorbid conditions—and equating that to specifically what their copay would be for this medication.”

Pharmacists play a vital role in managing the AE profiles of these agents, which often lead to high discontinuation rates. Gastrointestinal disorders, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, are the most common AE associated with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and dual agonists, with tirzepatide showing the highest risk for discontinuation due to these events. Furthermore, caution is advised when dispensing other therapies, such as phentermine/topiramate and naltrexone/bupropion.²

“With tens of millions of Americans affected by chronic obesity and its complications, we can no longer afford fragmented care or outdated frameworks. This guidance empowers primary care clinicians, centers the patient, and moves us closer to treating obesity as the root cause of many of the chronic diseases that burden our healthcare system today,” Lydia Alexander, MD, MFOMA, DABOM, DABLM, immediate past president of the OMA and co-lead author, said in the news release.¹

REFERENCES

1. Leading medical groups affirm obesity medications are safe and effective for long-term use. News release. The Obesity Society. March 5, 2026. Accessed April 16, 2026. https://www.obesity.org/obesity-medications-safe-effective-for-long-term-use/

2. Liu L, Li Z, Ye W, et al. Safety and effects of anti-obesity medications on weight loss, cardiometabolic, and psychological outcomes in people living with overweight or obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis. EClinicalMedicine. 2024;79:103020. Published 2024 Dec 27. doi:10.1016/j.eclinm.2024.103020

3. Flint SW, Brown A, Vázquez-Velázquez V, Hazlehurst JM. Medications for obesity as preventatives: a public and patient safety issue. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2024;12(12):878-879. doi:10.1016/S2213-8587(24)00319-X

4. Nowosielski B, McMahan R. Q&A: how increased popularity, minimal access to GLP-1s create patient barriers. Drug Topics. September 22, 2025. Accessed April 16, 2026. https://www.drugtopics.com/view/how-increased-popularity-minimal-access-to-glp-1s-create-patient-barriers