By Reuters December 2, 2025, 12:03:51 AM IST (Published)
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 a condition the agency says affects more than 1 billion people worldwide.
The guidance comes as demand for GLP‑1 agonists has surged and governments consider how to integrate these therapies into public health systems. The WHO’s first conditional recommendation advises use of GLP‑1 drugs by adults — except pregnant women — for long‑term obesity treatment. A second recommendation says healthy diet and physical activity should be offered alongside the medicines.
WHO Director‑General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the guidance “recognizes that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with comprehensive and lifelong care.” He added that medication alone cannot solve the crisis but that GLP‑1 medicines could help millions and reduce related harms.
The guideline covers three agents: semaglutide, tirzepatide and the older GLP‑1 drug liraglutide. It builds on the WHO’s September decision to add semaglutide and tirzepatide — the 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.
Tedros warned access will remain a major barrier. Even with expanded production, WHO projects GLP‑1 therapies will reach fewer than 10% of those who could benefit by 2030. The recommendations apply to adults with a body mass index of 30 or higher.
