The World Health Organization has released its first global guideline on Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) therapies for treating obesity, recognising the condition as a chronic, relapsing disease affecting over 1 billion people. Obesity caused 3.7 million deaths in 2024, and numbers are expected to double by 2030 without action.
GLP-1 therapies were added to WHO’s Essential Medicines List in September 2025 for managing type 2 diabetes in high-risk adults. The new guideline provides conditional recommendations for using these medicines alongside healthy diets, regular physical activity, and professional support.
WHO emphasizes that medication alone will not solve the obesity crisis. Effective management requires multisectoral action, including healthier environments, early interventions for high-risk individuals, and lifelong, person-centered care.
Access to GLP-1 therapies must be equitable, as even with increased production, fewer than 10 percent of those who could benefit are expected to receive them by 2030. Strategies like pooled procurement, tiered pricing, and voluntary licensing are recommended to improve availability.
The guideline was developed with extensive evidence review and stakeholder consultation, including people with lived experience of obesity. It is part of WHO’s acceleration plan to combat obesity and will be updated regularly. WHO will also work with partners in 2026 to prioritize access for those with the greatest need.
Obesity drives noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and some cancers, worsens outcomes for infectious diseases, and is projected to cost the global economy US$3 trillion annually by 2030.
