The World Health Organization (WHO) has taken a crucial step on Monday in the global fight against obesity: for the first time it officially endorses the use of GLP-1 drugs, marketed as Ozempic, Wegovy or Mounjaro, for the long-term treatment of chronic obesity in adults. The decision places these drugs, initially created to treat diabetes, at the center of a global health strategy that seeks to curb a disease that already affects more than one billion people.
GLP-1s act by mimicking a hormone that influences insulin secretion and satiety, which has been shown to be key to both diabetes control and weight loss. “Obesity is one of the great global health challenges,” stressed WHO Director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus as he presented the new recommendations, which formalize what is already a growing clinical trend.
GLP-1: an effective tool in the face of a global health crisis
The latest WHO data show an alarming reality: more than 3.7 million people died in 2024 from obesity-related diseases, and projections suggest that the number of people affected could double by 2030. Against this backdrop, the organization believes that GLP-1s will be an indispensable support.
“While drugs alone will not solve this global health crisis, GLP-1 treatments can help millions of people overcome obesity and reduce the associated harms,” Tedros stressed.
The guidelines recommend the use of these drugs in adults (except pregnant women) as long-term treatment, an important qualification that recognizes the chronic nature of obesity.
No “magic bullet”: WHO calls for caution and comprehensive approach
While welcoming the proven efficacy of Ozempic, Wegovy or Mounjaro, WHO insists that they should not be seen as an easy shortcut. The agency warns that, despite their results, information on their long-term safety and effectiveness is still lacking. Obesity, it recalls, is “a complex and chronic disease,” closely related to pathologies such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and some types of cancer.
For this reason, WHO stresses the need to combine GLP-1s with a healthy diet, physical activity and public policies that generate “healthier environments.” “You can’t look at these drugs as a magic bullet,” Jeremy Farrar, WHO assistant director general, told AFP. “But it is clear that they are going to become a very important part of an integrated approach to obesity.”
“Changing the epidemiological trajectory”: a before and an after
The potential impact of GLP-1s goes beyond individual health. According to the WHO, the global economic cost of obesity could reach $3 billion annually by the end of this decade.
“There is a possibility that we can change the epidemiological trajectory of obesity,” said WHO senior advisor Francesca Celletti. If that curve does not change, Farrar warned, “the pressure on health systems will be unsustainable.”
The big challenge: access to LPG-1 and the poorest countries
Despite their efficacy, these drugs face a decisive obstacle: their prohibitive price. The WHO recognizes the risk of putting GLP-1s beyond the reach of the poorest countries, where the health impact could be enormous. This is compounded by the current shortage, which has particularly affected diabetes patients, for whom these drugs were originally developed.
In September, the organization included them on its list of essential medicines, a strategic move to promote the production of affordable generic versions. Its goal is clear: to ensure that GLP-1s do not become an exclusive treatment.
A new chapter in the fight against obesity
The WHO endorsement marks a turning point in the approach to obesity, considering for the first time that it can and should also be treated with advanced pharmacological tools. But the message is unequivocal: GLP-1s are a powerful aid, yes, but not a unique prescription.
Faced with a disease that is advancing unchecked, the WHO is committed to a multiple strategy that combines medication, healthy lifestyles and public policies. And on this path, Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro are beginning to play a leading role that could transform global health in this decade.
