Posted By :  Admin1

The WHO has issued new guidance recommending the wider use of a class of weight-loss medicines to treat obesity. The move marks a major shift: the agency now recognizes obesity as a chronic medical condition that often needs long-term care. 

Globally, more than one billion people live with obesity. In 2024 alone, obesity was linked to around 3.7 million deaths. Without stronger action, the number of people affected could double by 2030, and the global cost of obesity-linked illness could reach 3 trillion USD annually. 

The medicines in focus are known as GLP-1 therapies. These include drugs such as semaglutide, tirzepatide, and liraglutide. They work by reducing appetite, slowing digestion, and helping regulate blood sugar — effects that help people eat less and lose weight. 

The guideline recommends long-term use for adults living with obesity (but not for pregnant women). However, this recommendation is “conditional.” That’s because there are still questions about long-term safety, what happens when treatment stops, how to maintain weight loss, and how accessible these medicines will be worldwide. 

WHO emphasizes that weight-loss medicine alone isn’t enough. For best results, a comprehensive approach is needed: healthy diet, regular physical activity, and behavioural support (like counselling or guidance from health professionals). 

One big concern is access. Demand for these medicines already exceeds global supply. Even with increased production, fewer than 10% of people who could benefit are expected to get them by 2030. Without careful policies, there is a risk this could widen global health inequalities. WHO urges governments to consider fair pricing, pooled procurement, and licensing to make these drugs more widely available. 

Ultimately, the new guidelines by WHO signal a change: obesity is no longer seen simply as a result of lifestyle choices, but as a serious chronic disease needing long-term, integrated treatment.