Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Dec 1: As obesity rises sharply worldwide — now affecting more than one billion people — the World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday released its first-ever guidelines on the use of GLP-1 therapies, stressing that medication alone cannot solve the global health challenge.
Obesity, defined by WHO as a BMI of 30 or higher, is recognised as a chronic, relapsing disease. While GLP-1 receptor agonists such as liraglutide, semaglutide, and tirzepatide have been approved for long-term treatment and have shown significant benefits in reducing weight, lowering blood sugar, and decreasing risks of heart and kidney complications, WHO said they must be part of a holistic treatment strategy.
The rising global demand for these medications has also resulted in an increase in falsified and substandard products, posing serious risks to patient safety and undermining trust in medical treatments.
WHO’s new guideline includes conditional recommendations for using the three GLP-1 agents in adults — excluding pregnant women — while emphasising that they must be supported by healthy diet interventions, regular physical activity, structured behavioural support, and lifelong comprehensive medical care.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that while medication alone will not solve the global health crisis, GLP-1 therapies can help millions overcome obesity and reduce related health risks.
Obesity contributes significantly to noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular conditions, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers, and worsens outcomes for infectious diseases. The global economic cost of obesity is projected to reach $3 trillion annually by 2030.
Even with increased production, WHO estimates that fewer than 10 per cent of people globally who could benefit from GLP-1 therapies will have access to them by 2030. The guideline calls for strategies such as pooled procurement, tiered pricing, and voluntary licensing to prevent widening health inequities.
WHO emphasised that addressing obesity requires healthier food and activity environments, early interventions for high-risk individuals, and lifelong, person-centred care systems. It said obesity is not just an individual issue but a societal challenge requiring coordinated, multisectoral action.