The World Health Organization (WHO) has released its first global guideline on the clinical use of GLP-1 receptor agonists for treating obesity, recognizing obesity as a chronic, relapsing disease requiring long-term and comprehensive management. More than 1 billion people currently live with obesity, contributing to an estimated 3.7 million deaths in 2024. Without stronger interventions, global prevalence is projected to double by 2030.
The escalating clinical and economic burden, projected to reach US$ 3 trillion annually by 2030, has prompted the WHO to develop structured guidance for clinicians and health systems. This new guideline follows WHO’s September 2025 inclusion of GLP-1 therapies on the Essential Medicines List for high-risk individuals with type 2 diabetes. The updated recommendations extend their potential use to people living with obesity, with the aim of complementing…
