Sarah*, 44, had been struggling to lose weight for some time. The cravings for sweets, in particular, felt impossible to outrun. So when her brother’s unused Mounjaro prescription—a GLP-1 weight loss injectable—became available, she decided to try it herself.
“I’ve been having trouble losing weight, and I have not been able to suppress my cravings for sweets,” she shares. “[Mounjaro] became accessible to me since my brother has not been taking his prescription regularly, and so there were a few extras.”
The drug effectively suppressed Sarah’s appetite to the point that she forgot she needed to eat. But during her first and second weeks of use, she experienced headaches and vomiting. Because of this, she stopped taking the medication. “It’s probably not for those [who are just] curious, as it’s best to consult your doctor about this,” she notes.
Sarah’s experience sits at the center of a tension that’s defining the GLP-1 moment: these drugs are extraordinary, and many Filipinos want in—with or without a prescription. Globally, the conversation has been impossible to ignore. Ever since the availability of GLP-1s, celebrities have pounced on the drug’s extraordinary weight loss benefits. Oprah Winfrey, Vanessa Williams, Serena Williams, and Amanda Bynes are just some of the biggest names who have openly shared their use of the medication. What began as a celebrity open secret has since evolved into something larger: a reevaluation of how the world perceives weight, metabolism, and the medications that intervene in both. In 2026, that restructuring is accelerating.
How They Work
GLP-1 stands for glucagon-like peptide-1, which belongs to a class of medication called GLP-1 receptor agonists. Essentially, they mimic the naturally occurring hormone GLP-1 that the pancreas produces.
Whenever we consume food, GLP-1s kick into action by triggering the secretion of insulin. Insulin, in turn, helps bring down blood sugar in the bloodstream and also aids in glucose storage for energy use. Moreover, these drugs act on the brain reward centers that govern appetite, effectively dialing down “food noise,” a.k.a. pervasive thoughts about food.
The risks of taking them without guidance are just as real as the benefits. Dr. Ivan Zapanta, an internal medicine and medical nutrition specialist, emphasizes how taking GLP-1s without the guidance of a doctor can lead to complications like rapid weight loss, gallbladder problems, electrolyte imbalances, or brain fog. “Add to these diarrhea or constipation that can lead to electrolyte abnormalities, and potentially it can harm the patient and even cause hospitalization or death,” he adds.
Contrast this with Botchi Santos, motoring journalist and businessman, whose experience with Ozempic (semaglutide, originally developed to treat Type 2 Diabetes) has been almost unremarkable—in the best way. After getting a kidney transplant, his doctor prescribed him the drug since his renal failure was caused by uncontrolled diabetes and undiagnosed hypertension.
“I didn’t need to do much adapting,” he says. “I just inject once a week, and I don’t feel any major changes anymore. But I can see their effects on my blood sugar and my appetite as I went for six weeks without Ozempic due to lack of supply, and my weight, appetite, and daily blood sugar average rose significantly. I gained five kilograms immediately.”
Other Drugs in the Market
Ozempic is just the tip of the iceberg, as several other agonists have swiftly garnered household name status, with the drugs becoming more accessible to the public. From becoming celebrities’ open secret for shedding pounds, these have become a premium offering in high-end aesthetic clinics.
Among these are pioneer injectable Wegovy (semaglutide, approved specifically for weight loss), Mounjaro and Zepbound (tirzepatide, developed by Eli Lilly), Saxenda (liraglutide, a once-daily injectable by Novo Nordisk), as well as the tablet Rybelsus (oral semaglutide), which have built a reputation for their pound-shedding effect.
While Wegovy and Rybelsus operate on the same formulation, Mounjaro and Zepbound are dual agonists, as they act on two hormone receptors, GLP-1 and GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide). The key difference is that the hormone GIP is produced by the small intestine. Together, the two agonists offer an additional boost in the slimming department.
“The satiety profile is better when it comes to the side effects, so less nausea, less vomiting, less abdominal pain when it comes to tirzepatide,” explains Dr. Zapanta. “It also has more profound weight loss compared to Ozempic, based on studies and trials.”
On the other hand, Saxenda is also an injectable like Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound, but it is administered once daily.
Currently, one pre-filled 1mg Ozempic pen costs anywhere between ₱7,800 and over ₱8,700 in leading drugstores. The pen is good for four shots, which covers a month’s supply.
Newest Players in 2026
2026 is proving to be an exciting year for weight loss agonists, with several drugs entering and finishing their clinical trials.
If there are single and dual agonists, there are also triple agonists. Enter retatrutide, a GIP, GLP-1, and glucagon receptor agonist (developed by Eli Lilly). In its first Phase 3 trial, announced in December 2025, participants lost an average of 71.2 lbs—or 28.7 percent of their body weight—over 68 weeks. Experts say retatrutide could potentially be even more effective for blood sugar control and weight loss versus previous trials of tirzepatide and semaglutide.
Meanwhile, Novo Nordisk’s once-weekly injectable CagriSema—made with a combination of amylin analog cagrilintide and semaglutide—came up short against Zepbound in a head-to-head Phase 3 trial, achieving 23 percent weight loss versus Zepbound’s 25.5 percent after 84 weeks. The gap was sufficient to raise serious questions about whether doctors and patients would opt for it over the more established drug. Still, Novo Nordisk has filed for US FDA approval, and a decision is expected in 2026.
Once-daily, non-peptide small-molecule drug aleniglipron helped participants lose up to 16.3 percent of their weight in a Phase 2 study at 44 weeks. With such positive results, it’s headed toward a Phase 3 trial. Because of their low molecular weight, small-molecule drugs can enter cells more easily.
The Arrival of Obesity Pills
Experts believe that 2026 will become the year of obesity pills, providing more affordable options to patients who might feel uncomfortable with injections.
Following the smashing success of Wegovy, Novo Nordisk developed the Wegovy pill, which received US FDA approval in December 2025—making it the first oral GLP-1 receptor agonist approved for weight management anywhere in the world. Although it’s not expected to promote greater weight loss than its injectable counterpart, the oral medication will make weight loss more accessible and convenient, thereby expanding the obesity treatment market further.
Another contender, also by Eli Lilly, is orforglipron, a once-daily weight loss and diabetes pill. In its Phase 3 obesity trial, participants on the highest dose lost an average of 27.3 lbs—or 12.4 percent of their body weight—at 72 weeks. Lilly has submitted it for US FDA review, with a decision expected as early as 2026.
Only time will tell which weight loss pill will fare better than the other. It’s inevitable that more obesity pills will come out in the market within the year.
Landmark WHO Guidelines
The World Health Organization (WHO) has highlighted the important role of comprehensive and lifelong care in addressing obesity, which it now recognizes as a chronic disease.
“Everything has to be doctor-guided to know which drug is best to be used for your condition.”—Dr. Ivan Zapanta, internal medicine and medical nutrition specialist
In September 2025, it added GLP-1 therapies to its Essential Medicines List for managing Type 2 diabetes in high-risk groups (elderly, immunocompromised, or with underlying conditions). Then, in December 2025, WHO issued its first-ever conditional guidelines specifically on GLP-1 use for obesity—a pivotal step since they launched “The WHO Acceleration Plan to Stop Obesity” in 2023.
Essentially, patients taking GLP-1s must also incorporate a healthy diet and lifestyle, under the guidance of health professionals. “Everything has to be doctor-guided to know which drug is best to be used for your condition,” emphasizes Dr. Zapanta. “And depending on the situation, the metabolic profile of a patient.”
Moreover, the new WHO guidelines on GLP-1 use for obesity are founded on policymaking, targeted screening practices, structured early interventions, and ensuring access to lifelong care. To make this possible, the organization urges immediate action from drugmakers to promote fair access to the medicines and adopt strategies such as tiered pricing and voluntary licensing.
With such rules in place, it is hoped that countries like the Philippines will have greater access to more affordable GLP-1s in the future. Still, even as pharmaceutical companies boost production, studies indicate that GLP-1s will reach less than 10 percent of eligible users by 2030. In the same year, experts also project that the global economic cost of obesity will hit at least $3 trillion annually.
The Future of Weight Loss & Culture
In the US, telehealth-first weight loss platforms have become wildly popular amid soaring demand. Through popular providers like Ro, Hims & Hers, and GoodRx, Americans can access prescription weight loss drugs online. In the Philippines, telehealth companies and aesthetic clinics have also jumped on the GLP-1 bandwagon, promising similar results.
These programs help patients determine their eligibility for the medication and also how much their insurance can cover. Once on the program, they receive regular or on-demand coaching from healthcare providers until they reach their weight loss goals. There are even tracking apps like Shotsy that help users monitor their use of Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Zepbound.
While most of these telehealth companies provide access to mainstream GLP-1 drugs, they also offer compounded alternatives. For instance, Hims may recommend a compounded treatment made up of “doctor-trusted ingredients.” Interestingly, these can come in serum, chewable, or even spray form.
Because compounded versions are generally cheaper, it’s no surprise that many have turned to them to kickstart their weight loss journey.
In February 2026, the US FDA warned the public about unapproved GLP-1 medicines, as these have not been tested for safety, efficacy, and quality. Also, these might not be compliant with storage or shipping regulations, which increases their level of contamination.
Similarly, local medical practitioners caution against patronizing such products as they have not been tested for safety and may come with side effects.
“It’s a reality that we are seeing a lot of users of compounded medications,” shares Dr. Zapanta. “And they buy these left and right from online sellers without a doctor’s prescription or without a pharmacist guiding them with their purchase. You won’t know if it’s really safe, if the composition is 100% true to the molecule.”
Dr. Zapanta further notes that Filipinos’ common desire for shortcuts promotes such purchases.
“Filipinos always look for the quickest solution possible, the solution that will have the least effort,” he points out. “So that’s what people are usually drawn to.”
The Skinny
One thing is clear: GLP-1s’ benefits cannot be denied, and Filipinos clearly want in on their weight loss “magic,” even if it comes at a cost.
“[My patients] usually achieve weight loss,” Dr. Zapanta shares. “And that’s really the wonder with these medications because you really see an improvement in their cardiovascular profile, in lipid profile, their cholesterol levels, their blood sugar, their body composition.”
“The medical landscape is already changing because of the discovery of these medications,” he adds. “And there’s no stopping it because there are even more molecules that are being researched on that are more effective than the ones we currently have.”
“The medical landscape is already changing because of the discovery of these medications. And there’s no stopping it because there are even more molecules that are being researched on that are more effective than the ones we currently have.” —Dr. Ivan Zapanta
Eventually, Dr. Zapanta anticipates that new types of diets for patients on GLP-1s, as well as coaching, lifestyle interventions, or workouts, will be developed to make the drugs more effective and longer-lasting.
For patients, meanwhile, the reality is that beyond weight loss, GLP-1s have been life-changing and, above all, life-saving. This is why Santos encourages those who can afford GLP-1s to give them a try if they’re prescribed.
“There are more similar drugs coming out, so accessibility isn’t an issue, but cost is considerable,” Santos posits. “If you have the means, don’t skimp on it if the doctor feels it can help you achieve your goal.”
*Name has been changed for privacy reasons. Additional reporting by Elaine Natividad Reyes.
