Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) have received increasing attention from researchers, healthcare professionals, people living with diabetes or obesity, and the public at large. In addition to multiple late-breaking clinical trial sessions featuring newly released data on the efficacy of this class of drugs, alone and in combination with other agents, the 2026 Scientific Sessions highlighted the latest findings and guidance on using GLP-1 RA therapies in the Monday, June 8, symposium, GLP-1 Receptor Agonists: What’s New in 2026?

Speakers covered a broad spectrum of topics related to GLP-1 RAs, including emerging pharmacological options, muscle physiology, obesity treatment for osteoarthritis (OA), and nutritional counseling. On-demand access to recorded presentations will be available to registered participants of the 2026 Scientific Sessions through August 10.

Preserving Lean Body Mass

Ian Neeland, MD, FAHA, FACC, reviewed lifestyle and pharmacologic interventions to help preserve lean body mass in people receiving GLP-1-based therapies, which have been shown to produce significant weight loss. However, lean/muscle mass loss is highly variable across GLP-1 RAs, noted Dr. Neeland, Director of Cardiovascular Prevention and Co-Director of the Center for Integrated and Novel Approaches in Vascular-Metabolic Disease at University Hospitals Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute, and Associate Professor of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University.

“With GLP-1-related therapy across many of the trial-related populations, both those with and without diabetes, we see high variability in the amount of both fat mass and lean mass loss across various compounds, where the newer generation, higher-dose compounds generally have the greatest total body weight loss, but also may have higher lean mass loss as well,” he said.

He also shared evidence-based data from protein supplementation and resistance training studies.

Clinical Trials for Incretin-Based Therapy

Highlighting the medications healthcare professionals can expect to see coming into the pipeline this year and next, Donna Ryan, MD, Professor Emeritus, Clinical Science, Pennington Biomedical Research Center at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, shared a robust overview of clinical trial data, including results from OASIS 1 and 4, STEP UP, and REDEFINE 1 and 2, reflecting the options and opportunities to better inform clinical decision-making.

She highlighted the differences in and analysis of the oral GLP-1 RAs approved for obesity management, semaglutide and orforglipron, as well as emerging formulations, including CagriSema, a combination of semaglutide and cagrilintide. Dr. Ryan also presented an overview of the other nutrient‑stimulated hormone (NuSH)-targeted therapy candidates for 2027, including MariTide, retatrutide, and survodutide.

“If these continue moving down the road, we’re going to have an overwhelming choice of medications,” Dr. Ryan said.

Emphasizing the value of these incretin-based options for better understanding treatment mechanisms, she said she hopes additional options will emerge to offer benefits beyond weight loss and diabetes management, including disease-modifying effects.

“It’s up to us to keep up with this,” she said.

Treating OA with GLP-1 RAs

Sean Wharton, MD, Medical Director of the Wharton Medical Clinic in Ontario, Canada, and Adjunct Professor at McMaster University and York University, gave an overview of how GLP-1 RAs are being used to treat OA. 

As obesity is a major cause of OA, Dr. Wharton emphasized that treating obesity treats OA, explaining that GLP-1 RAs, specifically semaglutide and retatrutide, have demonstrated improvements in knee OA.

He also shared the Adult Obesity Pharmacotherapy Decision Table, designed in Canada, and reinforced the range of data showing OA improvements in pain and function with GLP-1 RAs.

He would like to see additional research into incretin-based therapies for OA, noting that data from MRIs, ultrasounds, synovial fluid, and even biomarkers would be beneficial.

“We need better data to come out of these trials,” Dr. Wharton said. “We need further details to really understand these challenges, and it’s a good question because we know so many people are experiencing this.”

Optimal Nutrition with GLP-1 RAs

Leveraging her 30 years of experience as a practicing clinical dietitian, presently based in an internal medicine clinic, Patti Urbanski, MEd, RDN, LD, CDCES, FADCES, pbu conulting, presented nutritional recommendations for individuals using GLP-1-based therapies.

In diabetes education and consulting, Dr. Urbanski said she sees the positive impact of communication between healthcare professionals and people living with diabetes, as discussions about lifestyle, work, and environmental factors help to inform nutrition and lifestyle management strategies.

She also outlined the value of patient-focused, non-judgmental baseline assessments prior to initiating GLP-1 RA therapy, as well as the benefits of considering the social determinants of health that affect an individual.

“I can make the best nutrition recommendations in the world, but if somebody has situations in their lifestyle and their socioeconomic status that are going to prevent them from being able to implement those changes, it certainly isn’t going to have an impact,” Dr. Urbanski said.

She shared clinical recommendations from nutrition-related associations, offering insight into a healthy diet plate and physical activity recommendations. She also reinforced the value of individualized programs tailored for older adults and those with high body weight.

Dr. Urbanski noted the increasingly impactful role of registered dietitian nutritionists in the care of people living with diabetes, citing research showing that involving these professionals can help reduce discontinuation of their medications.