GLP-1's Weekly Pills Pens and Progress 5

Posted on August 14, 2026 by Sally-Anne Turner

If you've been following the news, you will have undoubtedly heard about the MHRA giving the green light for Foundayo, or the Eli Lilly pill, to go on sale in the UK.

This is huge, but it is far from being the only development in the world of GLP-1s. New research and links to other areas of medicine are coming about faster than our team at the Bodyline Clinic can write about them!

So, here is this week's roundup of interesting breakthroughs and clinical research into GLP-1s. Why not check out another GLP-1 Weekly to see what else has been going on?

GLP-1s and Binge Eating Disorder

This is a sensitive topic, and we advise caution if you or anyone you know has been diagnosed with an eating disorder.

A study conducted by University College London's Division of Psychiatry has found that GLP-1 medications have shown promise in helping people who are diagnosed with binge-eating disorder. The study was a randomised controlled trial that involved 8,069 participants.

This UCL study discovered that those receiving GLP-1 medications (versus the control group) had fewer binge-eating symptoms. They also found:

1. Improvements in binge-eating disorder-related behaviours.
2. Better control with eating.
3. Lower levels of eating disinhibition.
4. Reduction in emotional eating.

It should be noted that at the time of writing, GLP-1 medications are not prescribed for treating or managing binge-eating disorder. It should also be highlighted that just because of this potential link between a decrease in symptoms with binge-eating disorder, this does not suggest that GLP-1s are a suitable treatment for other eating disorders. As is the way with all psychological conditions, it is advised that therapy or counselling should be a part of any treatment plan.

Further research is needed, with researchers suggesting that larger, longer clinical trials are recommended, so watch this space.

See original study here: The effectiveness of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) on binge eating in patients with obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis — eClinicalMedicine

Fracture Reduction with Weight Loss Medications

It's not one of the most well-known complications of type 2 diabetes, but those who have it are at a higher risk of developing fractures.

A new study from Stanford, presented at the 2026 ENDO Conference, highlighted that when you take a GLP-1, it may do more than lower or stabilise your blood sugar. GLP-1s may also lower the risk of fractures in people who have type 2 diabetes.

The study involved almost 134,000 adults aged between 50 and 90 who had type 2 diabetes. The research team explored the differences between those starting GLP-1 receptor agonists and those who were starting DPP-4 inhibitors. DPP-4 inhibitors are a class of diabetes medication, and over the three-year study, those who took GLP-1s were found to have a 21% lower risk of fractures linked to fragility. The greatest reductions were seen in fractures of the hip, femur and spine.

What makes this even more compelling is that rapid weight loss using GLP-1s has previously raised concerns about bone health. At a simple biological level, rapid weight loss has been found to impact bone density and muscle mass. In those not taking GLP-1s, rapid weight loss can cause mineral issues in bones, upping the chance of them breaking.

Again, researchers have emphasised that these findings do not prove that GLP-1s directly protect bones. Clinical trials will be needed, as this research was conducted by accessing existing health records rather than assigning groups. So, there are likely to have been other factors impacting the results.

Still, interesting stuff!

See the original study here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42010367/

Taken GLP-1s While Pregnant? New Data Highlights Interesting Findings

We all know that if you fall pregnant while taking GLP-1s, you are advised to stop taking them. If you intend to become pregnant, you are advised to stop taking them three months before you plan to conceive.

But what happens if you are a woman who doesn't realise she is pregnant until several weeks or even months after, and you have continued to take these weight loss medications?

A Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health study explored 3,572 pregnancies in women who had been taking GLP-1 receptor agonists before they conceived. In this group, 1,467 had type 2 diabetes and by using insurance claims data from 2011–2023, the team compared women who took GLP-1s in the first trimester versus those who stopped.

The results were not what the team expected. The rate of non-live births was similar among the two groups:

1. 29.7% among women who continued GLP-1 medications.
2. 27.1% among women who discontinued them.

The team then adjusted the data for differences between the two groups, and no significant differences were found.

Also, the study noted that among the women who continued to take GLP-1s during early pregnancy:

1. There were no major congenital abnormalities.
2. No statistically significant differences in birth weight (low or high).
3. No significant issues during the second or third trimester.

Just because the data highlights that there is no risk in this data set, this does not mean that GLP-1s are safe during pregnancy. More research is needed to establish any significant clinical differences but, for obvious ethical reasons, this may take a while to get the green light on.

Find the original study here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42258827

At the Bodyline Clinic, we strive to offer everyone who comes to us a compassionate and effective journey with their weight loss. We know that the area of GLP-1s is changing rapidly and that this medication could have implications elsewhere. In the meantime, we will continue to offer it to those who want to lose weight safely, and we are always happy to accept enquiries. So, contact us today!