Teresa Branco
Director of TO BE.
Obesity is now recognized as a chronic, progressive, and complex disease, the management of which requires much more than quick fixes. It is no longer viewed as a personal failure but is instead treated as a medical condition that requires structured and ongoing treatment. Recently, on SIC Notícias’ Expresso da Manhã podcast, a historic shift was highlighted: the arrival on the market of 16 new medications for the treatment of obesity, paving the way for a new generation of therapies. Furthermore, at TO BE., this development reinforces the importance of a multidisciplinary, personalized, and sustained approach, where weight loss depends not only on medication but also on ongoing clinical work and consistent lifestyle changes.
The Stages of Obesity: Understanding the Condition to Take the Right Action
The classification of obesity is based on the Body Mass Index (BMI) and helps identify risks and treatment options:
- Pre-obesity (BMI 25–29.9)— moderate increase in metabolic risk;
- Class I Obesity (BMI 30–34.9)— high risk of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease;
- Class II Obesity (BMI 35–39.9)— very high risk; may warrant structured pharmacological intervention;
- Class III Obesity (BMI ≥ 40)— severe obesity with extreme risk; requires intensive, multidisciplinary medical care.
At every level, obesity is not a matter of willpower, but of biology, environment, genetics, and chronic inflammation.
What changes will take effect in 2026 regarding access to and administration of these medications?
Starting this year, greater availability of these medications and a significant reduction in the stockouts that have characterized recent years. With the entry of several new competitors into the market, this should ease the pressure on production and ensure more stable and continuous access to treatments.
In addition, there will be significant changes in the method of administration. Many of the therapies that are currently administered via weekly subcutaneous injections will now be available in daily oral formulations, making the process simpler for the patient, which will facilitate adherence to treatment. On the other hand, a new generation of combination formulations, capable of simultaneously acting on appetite, metabolism, and inflammation—three mechanisms essential to the development of obesity.
At the same time, stricter clinical criteria will be established for access to these therapies. It will be mandatory to obtain a formal diagnosis before starting treatment, as well as assessing the presence of chronic inflammation and screening for any associated conditions. Consequently, medical supervision will become an essential requirement for the use of these drugs.
Therefore, the medicalization of obesity in isolation will no longer be considered a valid approach. Instead, medication will be integrated into a comprehensive treatment plan, which includes ongoing monitoring, behavioral intervention, and clinical personalization.
Here at TO BE., we provide comprehensive care delivered by a multidisciplinary team that includes a nutritionist, endocrinologist and sports performance specialists, ensuring a safe, continuous, and personalized approach to obesity treatment.
Effects of these medications: benefits and disease prevention
Treating obesity is not just about losing weight; it’s about preventing serious diseases and improving health throughout life. The benefits studied go far beyond weight loss and demonstrate the profound impact that managing obesity can have on the body.
Among the most significant effects is the proven reduction in the risk of various diseases, including:
- Type 2 diabetes;
- Cardiovascular diseases;
- STROKE;
- Sleep apnea syndrome;
- Cancer;
- Joint problems;
- Chronic generalized inflammation.
Benefits of these medications:
- reduce appetite;
- improve glycemic control;
- reduce compulsive eating;
- increase the feeling of fullness;
- contribute to sustained weight loss when combined with behavioral interventions targeting daily habits.
The Minister of Health announced that Infarmed is evaluating the possibility of subsidizing medications for the treatment of obesity, a measure that has gained relevance following the new guidelines recently published by the World Health Organization (WHO).
In addition, for the first time, the WHO recommends expanding the use of a class of drugs that has so far been used primarily in the treatment of diabetes and for weight loss, advocating for its use in the structured treatment of obesity, a disease that already affects one billion people worldwide. Thus, the organization advocates for its use in the structured treatment of obesity, a disease that already affects one billion people worldwide.
Because medication alone does not guarantee lasting results
Weight regain is almost inevitable when medication is not accompanied by behavioral changes and multidisciplinary intervention.
In TO BE., we believe that the future of obesity treatment lies in integrating these therapies into a comprehensive, humane, and personalized clinical approach.
In short, addressing obesity means taking care of your long-term health, and this journey requires science, support, and balance. Medication can help, but it is lifestyle changes, supported by a specialized team, that ensure lasting results.
