HLTH Europe 2026: obesity drugs shift the paradigm, but systemic implementation lags

At the HLTH Europe 2026 conference in Amsterdam (June 15-18), obesity medications, particularly glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), were discussed as having potential to revolutionize the treatment of obesity affecting over one billion people worldwide. Experts emphasized that these drugs can achieve results similar to bariatric surgery and offer patients hope. The global obesity treatment market is estimated to reach $173.5 billion by 2031 across seven major markets. However, major barriers include stigma associated with obesity, insufficient healthcare coverage in Europe, and inadequate physician education. Only 2-3% of eligible patients in Europe are treated compared to 10% in the US. Panelists noted that most European healthcare systems do not currently cover GLP-1RAs and that improved educational programs and a shift in societal attitudes toward obesity as a chronic disease are necessary.