How can new medicine assist weight reduction resolutions stick?

Last month, the survey agency Statista revealed Americans’ most common 2026 resolutions. Three of the highest 5 concerned shedding weight, maintaining a healthy diet and exercising extra. 

But research additionally present 1 / 4 of the once-hopeful abandon their objectives throughout the first week, and greater than half give up by Feb. 1. Fewer than 1 in 10 stick it out to success. So for a lot of, the kilos keep on, 12 months after 12 months.

2026 is perhaps the 12 months that modifications.

For the primary time in generations of failed weight-loss resolutions, a brand new class of medication is now generally out there and continuously prescribed, both as injections or in a capsule that was accredited simply this week. UVA Health’s Dr. Cate Varney chatted with UVA Today about GLP-1 drugs, who wants them to succeed in their resolutions, and who doesn’t. 

Q. Briefly, how do drugs like GLP-1 work?

A. GLP‑1 is a naturally occurring hormone launched primarily from the intestine in response to consuming. It helps regulate blood glucose, will increase glucose uptake into cells and slows the gastrointestinal, or GI, tract to maximise nutrient absorption. In the mind, it indicators, “I’m full, I’m satisfied.”

The problem is our personal GLP‑1 is quickly degraded, with a half‑lifetime of just one to 2 minutes. GLP‑1 receptor agonist drugs (like Wegovy and Zepbound) lengthen this exercise, with newer brokers lasting 5 to seven days. The longer GLP‑1 stays lively, the stronger the urge for food suppression and GI slowing, so you’re feeling fuller quicker and longer, decreasing meals and subsequently calorie consumption.

Q. If somebody resolves to drop pounds in 2026, what determines whether or not your recommendation is the basic diet-and-exercise advice or weight reduction drugs?

A. Everyone wants a personalised plan based mostly on many elements, together with objectives, medical historical past, household historical past, and previous food regimen and train makes an attempt. Traditional recommendation to “eat less and move more” sometimes results in solely about 10% weight reduction, and 50-80% of individuals regain most of that inside a 12 months.

For sufferers who have to lose 20-30% of their weight, I’m sincere that food regimen and train are important for well being, however alone they not often obtain that stage of weight reduction. Tailored help and sensible expectations are key.

Q. What are a majority of these weight reduction drugs meant for, and what are they not meant for?

A. I at all times emphasize to my sufferers that it’s not simply in regards to the quantity on the size. The true aim is to enhance total well being, add high quality years to life, improve mobility and improve the power to do the issues they love. I get much more enthusiastic about serving to sufferers scale back or remove drugs than the quantity on the size.