The top health trends of 2026

1. GLP-1 expansion

The top health trend of 2026 chosen by 52% of the polled experts was the increased use of GLP-1 medications for health conditions.

Conversations around GLP-1s have dominated the health landscape in recent years. The medications have been hailed as a weight-loss miracle drug and are used to treat a variety of conditions beyond just obesity and type 2 diabetes, with potential impacts on heart health, kidney disease, fertility, arthritis, and even addiction.

According to KFF, around one in five U.S. adults have used GLP-1 drugs, and use rates have climbed as costs have continued to go down.

"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, an internist and board-certified physician nutrition specialist.

"GLP-1s continue to gain popularity with patients because it provides hope and the jump start for weight loss," said Alefiya Faizullabhoy, a registered dietitian and manager of the diabetes in pregnancy program at Northwell Health. "GLP-1s have shown to have cardiometabolic advantages, and likely as such a large part of funding towards research for GLP-1s is ongoing, there will be emergence of findings that GLP-1s have other advantages as well."

2. Integration of AI with wearable technology (tie)

Tied for second was the integration of AI with wearable technology for dietary tracking and coaching, according to the panel of experts.

These devices are using AI to give users more information than simply how many steps they've walked or calories they've burned, producing personalized recommendations and tips on how to improve sleep, stress management, and physical activity.

Panel experts predicted that AI will become further integrated with the health information that wearables already collect and will be used to help guide health behavioral change.

However, the experts noted that understanding all this additional data will require working alongside a healthcare provider to be most effective.

"AI is being used in every pathway, and using it as a tool will become a part of daily existence," said Faizullabhoy. "It may be used with wearable feedback devices to provide 'in time' association between food consumption and effect on, for example, glucose and other metabolic markers."

The biggest health technology trends for 2026

When the expert panel was also asked to name their most important health technology trend for 2026, 60% agreed that wearable devices providing real-time metabolic feedback topped the list. These wearables provide immediate, personalized insights on how the body responds to food, exercise, and stress, all of which are essential for informed, actionable choices and reinforcing behavioral change.

"From my perspective as an RDN, wearable devices like continuous glucose monitors and Oura rings offer an unmatched advantage," said Raksha Shah, a registered dietitian and founder of Wisebite Nutrition. "They provide immediate, personalized insights that empower individuals to make informed, actionable choices about their diet and lifestyle."

"Wearable technology that provides real-time metabolic data has the potential to fundamentally change how we give and follow nutrition advice," said Wendy Bazilian, a 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."

The experts also agreed on the need for professional guidance to support any lifestyle changes and help interpret the large amounts of data these devices provide.

"When interpreted with guidance, and not in isolation, it can make behavior change more personal, timely, and potentially sustainable," said Bazilian.

Two other health technologies — advanced food tracking apps and at-home testing kits for allergies, gut health, and more — also received significant votes from the panel. However, the experts cautioned that at-home food allergy testing is often unreliable, with other at-home tests being based on very little scientific testing or evidence, if any at all.

What isn't trending in 2026

Toward the bottom of the list of health trends for 2026 was hyper-personalized meal delivery services, greater adoption of plant-based and lab-grown meat alternatives, and an increased focus on sustainable and ethical food sourcing.

"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 CEO of Married to Health. "The market has changed and fully plant-based diets are no longer as highly favored as they once were."