The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued its first guidelines on the use of a new generation of appetite-suppressing drugs, known as GLP-1 agonists, to treat obesity in adults. These medications, which include blockbuster brands Ozempic and Mounjaro, have become increasingly popular in recent years. According to the WHO, more than 3.7 million people died from illnesses related to being overweight or obese in 2022, exceeding the combined deaths from top infectious killers malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV.
The new guidelines recommend the use of GLP-1 therapies for the long-term treatment of obesity in adults, excluding pregnant women. While the effectiveness of these therapies in treating obesity is evident, the WHO notes that more data is needed on their efficacy and safety over longer periods. The organisation stresses that medication alone will not reverse the trend in obesity, which is a complex, chronic disease and a major driver of non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular disease, type-2 diabetes, and some types of cancer.
The WHO suggests that GLP-1 therapies could be coupled with intensive behavioural interventions, promoting healthy diet and physical activity, to enhance treatment outcomes. The organisation also emphasizes the importance of creating healthier environments through robust population-level policies to promote health and prevent obesity. Targeted screening of individuals at high risk and ensuring access to lifelong, person-centred care are also crucial.
The global economic cost of obesity is predicted to hit $3 trillion annually by the end of this decade, making it essential to address this issue. The WHO warns that if the trajectory of the obesity epidemic is not altered, the pressure on health systems will become untenable. The high prices of GLP-1 drugs have raised concerns about their availability in poorer nations, where they could save the most lives. To address this issue, the WHO added GLP-1s to its list of essential medicines, calling for cheap generic versions to be made available for people in developing countries.
The WHO’s guidelines highlight the need for a comprehensive approach to treating obesity, incorporating medication, lifestyle changes, and policy interventions. By bending the epidemiological trajectory of obesity, countries can reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases and mitigate the economic costs associated with obesity. The WHO’s efforts to promote access to GLP-1 therapies and other essential medicines aim to reduce health inequity and ensure that innovations in treating non-communicable diseases are accessible to all.