WHO Endorses Broader Use of Weight-Loss Drugs, Declares Obesity a Chronic Disease
In a landmark move, the World Health Organisation has released its first guideline on next-generation weight-loss medicines, issuing conditional recommendations on the safe, long-term use of GLP-1 therapies such as liraglutide, semaglutide and tirzepatide. The guidance comes amid surging global obesity rates and rising demand for effective treatment options.
According to the WHO, more than one billion people are currently living with obesity worldwide, a condition linked to 3.7 million deaths in 2024. Without stronger intervention, the number of affected people could double by 2030, placing huge strain on health systems and pushing global economic losses to an estimated $3 trillion annually.
The new guideline is expected to shape national health policies, insurance coverage and clinical practice around the world. “Obesity is a major global health challenge,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus. “Our guidance recognises that obesity is a chronic disease requiring lifelong, comprehensive care. While medication alone won’t solve the crisis, GLP-1 therapies can help millions reduce obesity and its associated harms.”
WHO stressed that obesity is not merely the result of lifestyle choices but a complex condition influenced by genetics, environment, biology and socioeconomic factors. It remains a leading driver of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, several cancers and poor outcomes from infectious diseases.
GLP-1 therapies work by mimicking a natural hormone that helps regulate appetite, blood sugar and digestion, leading to significant weight loss for many people living with obesity. The drugs were added to the WHO Essential Medicines List in 2025 for managing type 2 diabetes in high-risk groups, and the new guideline supports their ongoing use for adults with obesity, except during pregnancy.
However, the recommendation remains conditional due to limited long-term safety data, uncertainty over weight maintenance after discontinuation, high costs and deep concerns about unequal access, particularly in low-income countries.
Demand for GLP-1 drugs already far exceeds global supply, and the WHO projects that fewer than 10 per cent of eligible people will have access by 2030. Without deliberate policy measures, it warned, the treatments could widen existing health inequalities.
To address this, WHO urged governments to adopt strategies such as pooled procurement, fair-pricing mechanisms and voluntary licensing agreements to expand access and ensure that breakthrough therapies benefit people across all income levels.
