23 Feb 2026 Nutrition Evidence Alert – February 2026 – Healthy Weight Loss

For the start of 2026 we shift our focus to healthy weight loss.

In clinical practice this requires more than calorie restriction, it demands a structured, evidence-based approach that preserves lean mass, supports metabolic health, and addresses the behavioural drivers of long-term weight regulation.

For individuals with obesity and related comorbidities, gradual fat loss achieved through dietary balance, exercise, sleep optimisation, and realistic goal setting leads to meaningful improvements in glycaemic control, lipid profiles, liver health, and overall cardiometabolic risk. While anti-obesity pharmacotherapy (including incretin-based therapies) can be highly effective adjuncts in appropriate patients, they are most successful when integrated into a comprehensive lifestyle framework and supported by long-term follow-up to minimise weight regain. 

Read this month’s featured articles to help shift the focus from rapid scale changes to durable metabolic improvements to improve adherence, reduce weight cycling, and support sustained outcomes.

Obesity Management Medication

Cardiometabolic Parameter Change by Weight Regain on Tirzepatide Withdrawal in Adults With Obesity: A Post Hoc Analysis of the SURMOUNT-4 Trial in JAMA Internal Medicine. 2025. With Expert Review from Chloe Steele

Trajectory of the body weight after drug discontinuation in the treatment of anti-obesity medications in BMC Medicine. 2025. With Expert Review from Sarah Cassar

Chrononutrition

Distribution of energy intake across the day and weight loss: A systematic review and meta-analysis in Obesity Reviews. 2023. With Expert Review from Daniel Quinones

Hormones and Weight Loss

Intentional Weight Loss, Waist Circumference Reduction, and Mortality Risk Among Postmenopausal Women in JAMA Network Open. 2025. With Expert Review from Gail Brady

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NED Resources

Check out the latest NED Feature Article – a review of the evidence-based considerations for nutritional therapy and personalised lifestyle support in liver health. 

For our full library of NED Feature Articles browse through the NED Journals or grab them directly from NED here.

Check out these new NED Infobites on liver health, nutrition and lifestyle. Covering different dietary strategies and exercise regimes in relation to weight loss, these 2 new NED Infobites are a great way to get yourself up-to-speed on the latest science in this area.

For our full library of NED Infobites, click here.

Happy Reading! Please send comments and suggestions to [email protected]

Multifunctional dietary approach reduces intestinal inflammation in relation with changes in gut microbiota composition in subjects at cardiometabolic risk: the SINFONI project.

Effect of 3 Different Daily Protein Intakes in a 2-Meal Eating Pattern on Protein Turnover in Middle Age and Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

The impact of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists in the treatment of eating disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Efficacy of time restricted eating and resistance training on body composition and mood profiles among young adults with overweight/obesity: a randomized controlled trial.

Effect of a Multifactorial Weight Loss Intervention on HDL Cholesterol Efflux Capacity and Immunosenescence: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Impact of Continuous Glucose Monitoring Versus Blood Glucose Monitoring to Support a Carbohydrate-Restricted Nutrition Intervention in People with Type 2 Diabetes.

Time-Restricted Eating Versus Daily Calorie Restriction: Effect on Sleep in Adults with Obesity over 12 Months.

Enhancing performance through biochemical monitoring and nutritional support in female weightlifters during pre-competition weight reduction: a randomized trial.

Losing sleep influences dietary intake in children: a longitudinal compositional analysis of a randomised crossover trial.

Bone Health After Exercise Alone, GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Treatment, or Combination Treatment: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Switching diets after 6-months does not result in renewed weight loss: a secondary analysis of a 12-month crossover randomized trial.

Weighted Vest Use or Resistance Exercise to Offset Weight Loss-Associated Bone Loss in Older Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

The mLIFE randomized trial examining the impact of gamifying social support provision for weight loss.

Evaluating the effect of targeting body shape concerns on long-term weight change.

Elevated ghrelin predicts food intake during experimental sleep restriction.

Exploring the Potential of Oral Butyrate Supplementation in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease: Subgroup Insights from an Interventional Study.

Comparative effectiveness of GLP-1 receptor agonists on glycaemic control, body weight, and lipid profile for type 2 diabetes: systematic review and network meta-analysis.



If you are looking for further NED value-added research on nutrition and healthy weight loss, you can find the full list of expert reviews here.