The Wellness Brief: Health & Healthcare News in October 2026
GLP-1 medications move fast: new research, new rules, new headlines every week, not all of them equally useful. Once a week, we will pull together the news that actually matters if you are taking a GLP-1, considering one, or simply trying to understand why everyone you know seems to be on one. Here is what’s been happening.
1. About 1 in 9 Americans Now Say They Take a GLP-1 for Weight Loss
A Gallup poll cited by MIT Technology Review this week found that 11% of Americans say they are taking a GLP-1 medication for weight loss, up from 3% in 2024. Fifteen percent say they have used one for weight loss at some point. Whatever you think about the category, it is no longer niche. It is mainstream medicine, which makes clear, honest information more important, not less.
2. Early Research Asks Whether GLP-1s Affect Biological Aging
At an aging research meeting in Boston, data presented by Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk suggested that people with overweight and diabetes taking GLP-1s measured roughly two to three years "younger" on some biological age markers than similar people taking a placebo.
Our take: interesting, early, and worth watching, but not a reason to start a medication. These findings come from the drugmakers themselves, "biological age" clocks are still debated by scientists, and conference presentations have not yet gone through full peer review. We will keep an eye on it.
3. We Are Still Learning About Side Effects
The same MIT Technology Review piece rounded up what researchers are still working to understand:
The common ones remain gastrointestinal: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation, which often ease as the body adjusts.
Pancreatitis and gallstone disease have been linked to the drugs in a UK drug-safety update.
Hair loss was associated with GLP-1 use in a large study of U.S. health records, though it is not thought to be common. (Rapid weight loss itself can trigger shedding, too.)
Sudden vision loss from a rare optic nerve condition is the subject of lawsuits against Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly. Both companies dispute the claims, and research on the link is mixed.
Our take: this is exactly why GLP-1s should be prescribed and monitored by a provider who knows your history, and why any new or unusual symptom is worth reporting right away, not waiting until your next refill.
4. Another Country Approves Its Own GLP-1
South Korea approved efpeglenatide, its first domestically developed GLP-1 obesity drug. Early reports describe it as producing more modest weight loss than leading options, with fewer side effects. It is a small item, but part of a bigger trend: the field is no longer just two companies, and more options are coming worldwide.
Where Access Stands This Fall
A quick check-in on cost and coverage, since it changes so often:
Medicare. The temporary Medicare GLP-1 Bridge, which began July 1, 2026, lets eligible Part D and Medicare Advantage enrollees with obesity (or overweight with certain conditions) get Wegovy, Foundayo, or the Zepbound KwikPen for a $50 monthly copay with prior authorization. It runs through December 31, 2027.
Pills. Lilly's oral GLP-1, Foundayo (orforglipron), has been available in the U.S. since April, with a self-pay price of $149 a month. (More on oral options in our post this Wednesday.)
FSA and HSA. If you have year-end funds to use, some or all of your prescribed treatment for a diagnosed condition may be eligible.
The Bottom Line
GLP-1s are now one of the most widely used medications in the country, and the science is still catching up, in both directions. The most useful thing you can do with the headlines is bring them to someone qualified to put them in context for you. At FORM by GBY, that is a licensed provider who knows your history and checks in over time. Start or revisit your FORM intake, and we will see you back here next week.
This article summarizes news reports and research for general educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Findings described are from the sources cited and do not predict individual results. GLP-1 medications are available by prescription only and require evaluation and ongoing management by a licensed healthcare provider. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved and are not the same as brand-name products. Do not start, stop, or change medication without provider guidance.