GLP-1 ranks as No. 1 health trend for 2026

WASHINGTON — U.S. News & World Report named expansion of GLP-1 medications as the top health and nutrition trend for 2026. Tying for the second spot were wearable technology integrated with artificial intelligence (AI) and food as medicine.

U.S. News & World Report interviewed 58 members on its panel, including medical doctors, registered dietitians and health researchers who answered questions about diet, nutrition and health goals. Fifty-two percent of panel members listed GLP-1 expansion as one of their two top trends for 2026 from a set of nine options.

GLP-1 medications, already used for treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes, will expand into treatment for other chronic diseases such as heart health, kidney disease and addiction, according to the panel. About one in five US adults have used GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic or Wegovy, according to U.S. News & World Report.

“I think the explosion of GLP-1s use will continue, and with the cost decreasing, increased utilization will increase our understanding of the benefits and use for other health issues,” said Melina Jampolis, MD, internist and board-certified physician nutrition specialist.

In other top trends, 38% of panel members listed wearable technology with AI among their top two trends, and 38% listed food as medicine among their top two trends.

Examples of wearable technology are watches, rings and continuous glucose monitors. Wearable technology initially gave consumers information on how many steps they walked in a day or how many calories they burned off in a day. Now, wearable technology is being used with AI to provide more information such as personal recommendations and tips to improve sleep, stress management and physical activity.

“Wearable technology that provides real-time metabolic data has the potential to fundamentally change how we give and follow nutrition advice,” said Wendy Bazilian, registered dietitian nutritionist and certified exercise physiologist. “Instead of relying on recall or generalized guidelines, people can see how their own glucose, heart rate variability or activity patterns respond to certain foods, sleep habits or stress.”

More emphasis on whole, nutritious food is showing up in the food-as-medicine trend. The panel recommended the Mediterranean diet for long-term health and weight management. The diet emphasizes whole food items such as fruit, vegetables, whole grains and legumes.

“There’s a growing shift toward viewing food as medicine, with fewer people relying solely on supplements and instead prioritizing whole nutrient-dense foods,” said Samar Kullab, a Chicago-based registered dietitian.

The panel said plant-based foods, sustainable sourcing and meat alternatives no longer are trending in 2026. While 7% of panel members placed sustainable and ethical food sourcing among their top two trends, 5% did for greater adoption of plant-based and lab-grown meat alternatives and 5% did for hyper-personalized meal delivery services.

“We are seeing many formerly plant-based restaurants and plant-based influencers incorporate animal products they feel are sustainable and ethical,” said Dahlia Marin, a registered dietitian, certified gastrointestinal nutritionist and chief executive officer of Married to Health. “The market has changed and fully plant-based diets are no longer as highly favored as they once were.”