Eli Lilly's Weight Loss Drug Promises Significant Results, Experts Advise on Diet

WHO:

Forbes - Eli Lilly, a pharmaceutical company, is the maker of the GLP-1 drugs Mounjaro and Zepbound.

Newsweek - Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, a professor of medicine and pediatrics at Harvard University, and Sobia Qasim, a superintendent pharmacist at the online U.K. pharmacy Curely, provided insights on dietary guidance for patients using weight loss drugs.

WHAT:

Forbes - Eli Lilly announced that participants in two phase 3 trials of its retatrutide weight-loss drug lost an average of nearly 56 pounds after 80 weeks.

Forbes - One study showed an average weight loss of 22.6%, or 55.8 pounds, in adults with severe obesity, while another study showed a 20.8% weight loss, or about 49.6 pounds, in adults with obesity and diabetes.

Forbes - Eli Lilly plans to file for FDA approval of retatrutide in the first quarter of 2027.

Newsweek - As of March 2026, one in eight Americans were using GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy.

Newsweek - Experts warned about potential risks of "undernutrition" for patients using weight loss drugs, emphasizing the importance of dietary guidance.

WHERE:

Newsweek - The dietary guidance was shared by experts in the United States.

WHEN:

Forbes - Eli Lilly's filing for FDA approval of retatrutide is planned for the first quarter of 2027.

Newsweek - The data indicating that one in eight Americans were using GLP-1 medications was reported as of March 2026.

WHY:

Forbes - Eli Lilly aims to maintain dominance over the GLP-1 market, where it has overtaken rival company Novo Nordisk.

Newsweek - The rise in GLP-1 medication use coincides with a decline in U.S. obesity rates, although multiple factors are likely at play.

HOW:

Forbes - Retatrutide targets multiple hormones—GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon—that impact appetite and metabolism.

Newsweek - Experts recommend that patients prioritize protein, eat small regular meals, stay hydrated, and consider supplementation of certain vitamins while using GLP-1 medications.

(UPDATED July 23, 2026 22:25 UTC)

Eli Lilly, the pharmaceutical company behind the GLP-1 drugs Mounjaro and Zepbound, recently announced that participants in two phase 3 trials of its retatrutide weight-loss drug lost an average of nearly 56 pounds after 80 weeks. Experts, including Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford from Harvard and pharmacist Sobia Qasim, have emphasized the importance of dietary guidance for patients using weight loss drugs, as one in eight Americans were reported to be using GLP-1 medications as of March 2026. Eli Lilly plans to file for FDA approval of retatrutide in the first quarter of 2027, aiming to maintain its dominance in the GLP-1 market while addressing potential risks of undernutrition for users.