The WHO has published a new global guideline endorsing the use of GLP‑1 (glucagon‑like peptide-1) therapies for long‑term treatment of obesity in adults.
The guidance marks a shift in treating obesity by recognising it as a chronic, relapsing disease that demands continuous care, rather than a temporary lifestyle condition. Under the guideline, adults with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or higher, excluding pregnant women, may be considered for GLP‑1 therapy.
The medicines named under the guideline include, among others, agents such as liraglutide, semaglutide, and tirzepatide.
In addition to drug therapy, the WHO emphasises a comprehensive, multimodal approach: patients prescribed GLP‑1 medicines should have access to structured behavioural support — including healthy dietary advice, physical activity, lifestyle counselling and regular follow-up — to maximise health outcomes.
The guideline is careful to note that while GLP‑1 therapies have shown effectiveness in weight management and improving metabolic outcomes, the recommendation is conditional— long-term safety, maintenance/discontinuation data, cost, health-system capacity, and issues of equitable access remain concerns.
To address access issues, WHO calls for policy-level measures such as pooled procurement, tiered pricing, voluntary licensing, and strengthening health systems, aiming to make these treatments available and affordable for populations in need.
With global obesity affecting over 1 billion people worldwide and continuing to drive noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, type‑2 diabetes and several cancers, this guideline could mark a significant change in how the world tackles obesity and its complications.
The WHO says the guideline is a first step and it calls on governments, health systems and stakeholders to build integrated, long-term obesity care frameworks that combine pharmacological, behavioural and preventive measures.
