World Obesity Day: Solving GLP-1 and weight management’s biggest challenges

The rise of GLP-1 medications is redefining weight management. The rapid weight loss associated with medications like semaglutide creates a “nutritional gap” that pharmaceuticals alone cannot bridge. This shift offers a massive opportunity for nutraceuticals to pivot from standalone solutions to essential, science-backed companions. 

Innovation now focuses on “GLP-1 support” formulas that prioritize muscle preservation and gastrointestinal (GI) health. By pairing bioactives like berberine, low-glycemic carbohydrate solutions, high-protein ingredients, and prebiotic fibers with clinical treatments, the industry is moving toward a holistic care model. Success in 2026 lies in this strategic synergy between nutrition and pharmacology.

On the occasion of World Obesity Day 2026, Nutrition Insight sits down with experts from Beneo, Gnosis by Lesaffre, and Sanroo to explore the future of weight management in the supplement and nutraceutical industry.

“The rise of GLP-1 drugs is reshaping the nutrition landscape,” Karel Thurman, the portfolio director at Beneo, tells us. “They don’t change the fundamentals, but they do change the type of nutritional and lifestyle support needed in each stage of the weight loss journey.”

“While GLP-1 therapies may be here to stay, many consumers continue to pursue weight management through natural approaches. In both cases, the need for high-quality diets remains essential, and functional ingredients have a crucial role to play.”

Maggie McNamara, the VP of global marketing at Saanroo, says that with GLP-1s entering the conversation much earlier in consumers’ weight management journey, there is a growing demand for gentle, daily-use formats. She also says that for these interventions to succeed long-term, they must be easy for consumers to stick with.

Silvia Pisoni, the global operational marketing director at Gnosis by Lesaffre, agrees, stating: “As GLP-1 treatments expand to broader applications, like cardiovascular health, the demand for complementary solutions addressing the side effects, such as nausea and lower GI imbalances of such therapies, also grows.”

“Therefore, products tailored to support gut comfort as well as digestive health and motility are becoming increasingly relevant. Specific ingredient categories, such as probiotics, that are proven to resolve the GI discomfort caused by GLP-1 agonists, are key areas of growth opportunity.”

Making it easier on the gut

Pisoni points out that, while GLP-1 medications are transformative, they often come with a heavy tax on the gut, leaving many patients struggling with nausea, cramping, and disrupted motility. She spotlights Gnosis by Lesaffre’s ibSium probiotic yeast as a functional solution that helps restore microbial balance and provides much-needed relief from these common GI side effects.

Gnosis by Lesaffre’s ibSium probiotic yeast helps restore microbial balance and provides much-needed relief from common GI side effects from GLP-1.She underscores that solutions like ibSium specifically target intestinal discomfort and can be utilized to help manage the bloating and abdominal pain that often lead patients to abandon their medication.

“IbSium is supported by four clinical trials and one meta-analysis, with a second publication pending,” Pisoni reveals. “A consumer study assessed the benefits of ibSium supplementation in over 1,000 participants, and findings showed that 77% with irritable bowel symptoms felt improvements within 15 days, and 25% reported reduced symptoms within five days.”

“Additionally, clinical evidence showed patients also experienced 37% lower abdominal pain persistence. Brands can be assured that ibSium is the only probiotic strain with demonstrated significant benefits for abdominal discomfort management. We recommend a daily dose of 4 billion CFU.”

Novel nutraceuticals

According to McNamara at Saanroo, the rise of GLP-1s and innovations such as the recently released Wegovy pill are shifting the goalposts for weight-management ingredients. It is no longer enough for an ingredient to simply support weight loss — it must now prove its worth within a medication-led ecosystem.

Consequently, she emphasizes that the industry is moving away from chasing drug-level results and toward metrics that actually matter for the long haul. Tolerability, ease of use, and the ability to sustain healthy behaviors are the new benchmarks and ingredients that can demonstrate a clear, supportive role within these structured medical programs, which are the ones likely to see lasting success.

Saanroos BioBerb can support metabolic health, while its Trpti (OEA) can support satiety.McNamara says ingredients like Saanroos BioBerb — a berberine ingredient derived from purified Berberis aristata root and standardized to 63% active berberine — and its Trpti oleoylethanolamide (OEA) — a fatty acid amide produced by the body that signals satiety to the brain — can offer a clear advantage for customers.

“When supporting metabolic health as part of a strategy, ingredients like BioBerb are important because they address known challenges associated with traditional berberine use, including high doses and GI tolerance, allowing brands to design more sustainable daily products,” she says.

“GLP-1 adoption strengthens ingredients that enable brands to design multi-phase, system-based approaches to weight management. Trpti (OEA) fits well within satiety-support and appetite-signaling strategies focused on daily use and maintenance.” 

McNamara explains that BioBerb supports brands seeking to position products for metabolic health. It addresses the traditional formulation challenges associated with berberine while maintaining scientific credibility. 

“Both ingredients benefit from being integrated into broader platforms rather than isolated, single-claim products.”

The weight loss lifespan

Beneo emphasizes that GLP-1 users need key ingredients like protein and fiber for digestive health. They also need solutions for hydration and fortified, nutritionally dense, smaller portions, since glycemic impacts and metabolic health underpin successful weight management.

Thurman also highlights the need for companies to include ingredients that meet patients’ needs and health goals across all stages of GLP-1 therapy use. Thurman says these include metabolic preparation before beginning the medication, starting the medication and weight loss, and then the final stages of weight maintenance and discontinuation.

“Each of these stages requires different support. For example, before taking medication, it is important to support the body’s natural release of GLP-1 with functional ingredients like the low-glycemic carbohydrate Palatinose that has been shown to stimulate the release of GLP-1 in overweight adults.”

Beneo’s low-glycemic carbohydrate Palatinose supports the body’s natural release of GLP-1 to support weight-loss.“During weight loss, it’s crucial to support muscle maintenance and digestive comfort and eliminate nutrient deficiencies. In this stage, meal replacers are a convenient option, particularly those that combine protein and prebiotic fiber enrichment with low-glycemic carbohydrates,” he notes.

Additionally, Thurman says appetite stabilization and maintaining metabolic rate are key during weight maintenance. This supports ingredients that naturally promote GLP-1 release, such as Palatinose, whose effects are prolonged to a subsequent meal.

Finally, to avoid weight regain after discontinuation, he notes that nutrition that helps stabilize appetite and energy is key. “For instance, chicory root fibers, as proven prebiotics, have been shown to support satiety, while Palatinose provides a sustained energy supply.”

As the definition of weight loss evolves, Thurman underscores that the space for functional foods and drinks that promote satiety and gut health is growing. Consumers are connecting the dots between metabolic wellness and balanced blood sugar, making ingredients like prebiotic fibers and low-glycemic carbohydrates essential tools for modern formulators.

Thurman also points to the need to address the growing “rebound anxiety.” With research suggesting that weight can be fully regained within 18 months of stopping medication, the focus is shifting toward satiety-focused diets. This creates a clear opening for products that help consumers manage hunger naturally and sustain their results long-term.

“As a result, food and beverage producers looking to support consumers on their weight loss journeys will need to look beyond weight loss and calorie reduction benefits toward ingredients that also help enhance satiety, support metabolic health, and reduce GLP-1 drug side effects,” Thurman concludes.