type 2 diabetes glp-1 receptor agonists are increasingly used to treat and obesity, and trials have shown reductions in cardiovascular risk and slowing of kidney failure. Adverse events are mostly gastrointestinal. Read List of approved and pending

FGF21 has thermogenic and insulin-sensitising effects when combined with a GLP-1RA with elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) as a flexible linker (94)

Patients with insulin resistance or metabolic syndrome may see appetite effects quickly but weight loss may take longer

State Medicaid programs set their own preferred drug lists, and only about 14 states cover GLP-1s for obesity as of 2026 according to the latest KFF state Medicaid tracker

The demand for weight loss drugs, which can cost upwards of $1,000 per month before insurance, has skyrocketed, leading to nationwide shortages

Microdosing GLP-1 for autoimmune conditions is an emerging area of interest, with some practitioners maintaining patients on very low doses primarily for anti-inflammatory benefits rather than weight management