WHO Endorses GLP-1 Therapies for Obesity Treatment,Calls for Global Access
The World Health Organization (WHO) has,for the first time,issued guidelines recommending the expanded use of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) therapies – a class of drugs currently used to treat diabetes and obesity – to combat the growing global obesity epidemic,which affects approximately one billion people.
The newly released guidance advocates for equitable and affordable access to thes medications, including semaglutide, liraglutide, and dulaglutide, and proposes adding them to the WHO’s model List of Essential Medicines, which currently comprises 532 therapies considered vital for a functioning healthcare system. This inclusion is intended to inform public health policies and improve access worldwide.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized that the guidelines recognize obesity as a chronic disease requiring complete, lifelong management. While acknowledging that medication alone won’t solve the crisis, he stated that GLP-1 therapies “can help millions of people overcome obesity and reduce its adverse effects.”
The WHO’s strategy for tackling obesity is built on three key pillars: creating supportive environments through policy changes, prioritizing early detection and intervention for at-risk individuals, and providing person-centered, ongoing care for those living wiht the condition.
GLP-1 therapies work by improving blood glucose control, suppressing appetite, and promoting weight loss. Obesity is a critically important global health threat,contributing to an estimated 3.7 million deaths in 2024 alone. Without intervention, global obesity rates are projected to double by 2030.
The WHO’s recommendation for long-term GLP-1 therapy (over six months) in adults with obesity is based on evidence assessed with “moderate certainty,” excluding pregnant women. However, the recommendation is conditional due to gaps in long-term data regarding usage, maintenance, and discontinuation, and also concerns about current costs, healthcare system preparedness, and potential inequities in access.
the issue of access and appropriate use is already being observed in some countries. In portugal, such as, GLP-1 therapies are currently only reimbursed for diabetes patients, and this class of drugs represented the largest financial burden on the national health service (354.6 million euros) between January and September of the current year. The off-label use of these medications for weight loss has contributed to shortages for diabetic patients, prompting increased audits and inspections by the national regulatory authority, Infarmed.
