3rd Edition of International Obesity and Metabolism Conference 2027

Abstract

The rapid expansion of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists and dual GIP/GLP-1 agonists has significantly reshaped clinical management of obesity. While these medications can produce substantial short-term weight loss, increasing reliance on pharmacotherapy risks narrowing obesity to an individual clinical issue, potentially diverting attention from structural drivers embedded within unhealthy food environments. Obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases are strongly influenced by marketing practices, ultra-processed food (UPF) availability, pricing structures, and inequitable access to healthy diets. Without addressing these systemic determinants, long-term and equitable impact is unlikely.

Methodology & Theoretical Orientation:
This study presents a narrative policy analysis synthesising current evidence on food environments, regulatory interventions, and obesity pharmacotherapy. An ecological framework, informed by the commercial determinants of health, was used to examine the interaction between expanding access to GLP-1 therapies and broader structural drivers, including food marketing, reformulation policies, retail placement, and agricultural subsidy structures.

Findings:
Access to GLP-1 therapies remains limited, time-restricted, and socially unequal across settings. Pricing volatility and reliance on private markets risk widening disparities. Evidence demonstrates that high exposure to products high in fat, salt, and sugar, pervasive marketing of UPFs, and limited availability of affordable minimally processed foods undermine sustained weight management. Although recent policy initiatives signal progress, regulatory gaps persist across marketing restrictions, mandatory reformulation, and retail environments. Pharmacological treatment alone does not modify these upstream conditions.

Conclusion & Significance:
GLP-1 therapies may benefit individuals, but achieving durable population-level obesity reduction requires comprehensive reform of the food system. Integrating clinical innovation with mandatory reformulation, stronger marketing restrictions, clearer labelling, and improved access to healthy diets is essential to achieve sustainable and equitable outcomes.