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The World Health Organization on Monday issued its first guideline on the use of GLP-1 therapies for obesity, conditionally recommending them as part of long-term treatment for the condition, which affects more than one billion people globally, according to the agency.
The guidance comes as demand for the class of drugs known as GLP-1 agonists has surged worldwide, and governments are figuring out how to include the blockbuster therapies in public health systems.
The first conditional recommendation advises the use of GLP-1 drugs by adults, except pregnant women, for long-term obesity treatment, while the second suggests interventions like a healthy diet and physical activity to be offered alongside the medicines.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the new guidance “recognizes that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with comprehensive and lifelong care.”
Beyond weight loss and diabetes treatment, GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy have shown some early potential to treat drug and alcohol addiction. For The National, CBC’s Jennifer Yoon breaks down what the latest research reveals, and what scientists are still trying to figure out.
He added that although medication alone cannot solve this global health crisis, GLP-1 medication could help millions overcome this condition and reduce its associated harms.
Reuters first reported that the WHO was likely to take this step earlier this year.
The latest move builds on the agency’s decision in September to add semaglutide and tirzepatide, active ingredients in Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic and Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro, to its essential medicines list for managing type 2 diabetes in high-risk groups.
The agency warned on Monday that the economic toll of obesity was rising sharply, with the annual global cost to reach $3 trillion US by 2030.
WHO also stressed that access remains a major barrier. Even with rapid expansion in production, GLP-1 therapies are projected to reach fewer than 10 per cent of those who could benefit, by 2030.
The latest guideline applies to adults with a body mass index of 30 or higher and the recommendations are for three agents — semaglutide, tirzepatide and an older drug from the same class called liraglutide.
WHO said it will work with governments and stakeholders in 2026 to help prioritize access for people at the highest health risk.
