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The World Health Organization (WHO) released its first guidelines on the use of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) therapies for treating obesity, a disease affecting more than 1 billion people globally, which the WHO projects will double by 2030, “without decisive action.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) released its first guidelines on the use of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) therapies for treating obesity, a disease affecting more than 1 billion people globally, which the WHO projects will double by 2030, “without decisive action.”

Published in the JAMA medical journal, the WHO issued two recommendations, the first of which approved the use of GLP-1 therapies, including semaglutide, liraglutide and tirzepatide, for the long-term treatment of obesity in adults, excluding pregnant women.

Published in the JAMA medical journal, the WHO issued two recommendations, the first of which approved the use of GLP-1 therapies, including semaglutide, liraglutide and tirzepatide, for the long-term treatment of obesity in adults, excluding pregnant women.

For its second recommendation, the UN organization advised that GLP-1 therapies be combined with intensive behavioral therapy (IBT), which includes a healthy diet and physical exercise, to “amplify and sustain the therapeutic benefits of the medication.”

For its second recommendation, the UN organization advised that GLP-1 therapies be combined with intensive behavioral therapy (IBT), which includes a healthy diet and physical exercise, to “amplify and sustain the therapeutic benefits of the medication.”

Both recommendations were conditional, with the WHO citing limited data on the long-term effects of GLP-1 therapies and “low certainty evidence” that IBT would enhance their performance, as well as the cost of the treatment and the unpreparedness of health care systems to offer it.

Both recommendations were conditional, with the WHO citing limited data on the long-term effects of GLP-1 therapies and “low certainty evidence” that IBT would enhance their performance, as well as the cost of the treatment and the unpreparedness of health care systems to offer it.

The WHO further recommended strategies to establish “widespread and fair access” to GLP-1 therapies — such as pooled procurement and tiered pricing — given its projection that current GLP-1 production levels will cover fewer than 10% of those already living with obesity by 2030.

The WHO further recommended strategies to establish “widespread and fair access” to GLP-1 therapies — such as pooled procurement and tiered pricing — given its projection that current GLP-1 production levels will cover fewer than 10% of those already living with obesity by 2030.

The guidance is the latest in the WHO’s promotion of the weight loss drugs, following the organization’s addition of GLP-1 therapies to its Essential Medicines List for managing type 2 diabetes in high-risk groups in September.

The guidance is the latest in the WHO’s promotion of the weight loss drugs, following the organization’s addition of GLP-1 therapies to its Essential Medicines List for managing type 2 diabetes in high-risk groups in September.

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The World Health Organization released its first guideline on the use of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 therapies for treating obesity, affecting more than 1 billion people globally, with the number projected to double by 2030 without decisive action.

The World Health Organization released its first guideline on the use of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 therapies for treating obesity, affecting more than 1 billion people globally, with the number projected to double by 2030 without decisive action.

The WHO issued conditional recommendations for GLP-1 therapies, including semaglutide, liraglutide and tirzepatide, for long-term treatment of obesity in adults excluding pregnant women, emphasizing limited data on long-term efficacy and safety.

The WHO issued conditional recommendations for GLP-1 therapies, including semaglutide, liraglutide and tirzepatide, for long-term treatment of obesity in adults excluding pregnant women, emphasizing limited data on long-term efficacy and safety.

Obesity was associated with 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, and the global economic cost is predicted to reach $3 trillion annually by 2030, driving efforts to reduce health costs associated with managing the condition and its complications.

Obesity was associated with 3.7 million deaths worldwide in 2024, and the global economic cost is predicted to reach $3 trillion annually by 2030, driving efforts to reduce health costs associated with managing the condition and its complications.

The WHO emphasized that GLP-1 therapies should be combined with intensive behavioral interventions involving healthy diet and physical activity, as medication alone will not solve the obesity challenge, which requires comprehensive and lifelong care.

The WHO emphasized that GLP-1 therapies should be combined with intensive behavioral interventions involving healthy diet and physical activity, as medication alone will not solve the obesity challenge, which requires comprehensive and lifelong care.

Even with rapid expansion in production, GLP-1 therapies are projected to reach fewer than 10% of those who could benefit by 2030, prompting the WHO to call for strategies to expand access such as pooled procurement and tiered pricing to address equity concerns.

Even with rapid expansion in production, GLP-1 therapies are projected to reach fewer than 10% of those who could benefit by 2030, prompting the WHO to call for strategies to expand access such as pooled procurement and tiered pricing to address equity concerns.

The WHO added GLP-1 therapies to its Essential Medicines List for managing type 2 diabetes in high-risk groups in September 2025, and the new guideline represents a shift toward treating obesity as a chronic disease deserving lifelong care.

The WHO added GLP-1 therapies to its Essential Medicines List for managing type 2 diabetes in high-risk groups in September 2025, and the new guideline represents a shift toward treating obesity as a chronic disease deserving lifelong care.

Weight loss drugs fail to address the root causes of obesity and represent a dangerous abdication of responsibility, particularly for children. These medications don't teach healthier eating habits, come with serious side effects like nausea and depression, and patients typically regain weight after stopping them. Relying on expensive pharmaceutical interventions instead of addressing diet, exercise and lifestyle changes ignores that obesity stems from normal human physiology responding to modern environments.

Weight loss drugs fail to address the root causes of obesity and represent a dangerous abdication of responsibility, particularly for children. These medications don't teach healthier eating habits, come with serious side effects like nausea and depression, and patients typically regain weight after stopping them. Relying on expensive pharmaceutical interventions instead of addressing diet, exercise and lifestyle changes ignores that obesity stems from normal human physiology responding to modern environments.

GLP-1 therapies represent a critical breakthrough in treating obesity as the chronic disease it is, offering effective treatment that extends beyond weight loss to reduce cardiovascular events and other complications. With over 1 billion people affected globally and costs reaching $3 trillion annually by 2030, these medications provide an essential tool within comprehensive care that includes behavioral interventions. Ensuring equitable access through generic production and health system integration can transform obesity from an untreatable condition into a manageable chronic disease.

GLP-1 therapies represent a critical breakthrough in treating obesity as the chronic disease it is, offering effective treatment that extends beyond weight loss to reduce cardiovascular events and other complications. With over 1 billion people affected globally and costs reaching $3 trillion annually by 2030, these medications provide an essential tool within comprehensive care that includes behavioral interventions. Ensuring equitable access through generic production and health system integration can transform obesity from an untreatable condition into a manageable chronic disease.

WHO Issues First Guidelines for GLP-1 Obesity Treatments

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Weight loss drugs fail to address the real problem and create dangerous dependencies. These medications fail to teach healthier eating habits and come with serious side effects like nausea and depression, with patients typically regaining weight after ending treatment. Weight loss drugs, therefore, ignore the root causes of obesity in favor of temporarily treating the symptoms.

Weight loss drugs fail to address the real problem and create dangerous dependencies. These medications fail to teach healthier eating habits and come with serious side effects like nausea and depression, with patients typically regaining weight after ending treatment. Weight loss drugs, therefore, ignore the root causes of obesity in favor of temporarily treating the symptoms.

GLP-1 therapies represent a significant breakthrough in treating obesity, offering an effective form of treatment that extends beyond weight loss to other complications, like diabetes. As part of a comprehensive approach to care, these drugs could revolutionize health outcomes for millions, which is why it is essential to ensure universal access to these therapies as soon as possible.

GLP-1 therapies represent a significant breakthrough in treating obesity, offering an effective form of treatment that extends beyond weight loss to other complications, like diabetes. As part of a comprehensive approach to care, these drugs could revolutionize health outcomes for millions, which is why it is essential to ensure universal access to these therapies as soon as possible.

There is a 74% chance that a small molecule GLP-1-based drug will be approved for the treatment of obesity by the FDA or EMA by 2029, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

There is a 74% chance that a small molecule GLP-1-based drug will be approved for the treatment of obesity by the FDA or EMA by 2029, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

WHO Issues First Guidelines for GLP-1 Obesity Treatments

WHO Issues First Guidelines for GLP-1 Obesity Treatments

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WHO Issues First Guidelines for GLP-1 Obesity Treatments

WHO Issues First Guidelines for GLP-1 Obesity Treatments

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