The World Health Organization (WHO) has released its first global guideline on using Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) therapies to treat obesity, a condition affecting over one billion people worldwide and linked to 3.7 million deaths in 2024.

• The WHO defines obesity as a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or above in adults.
• The new guideline offers conditional recommendations for GLP-1 therapy use in adults, excluding pregnant women, emphasizing a broader approach including healthy diets and physical activity.
• The WHO warns that without urgent intervention, the number of people living with obesity is expected to double by 2030, with projected global costs reaching US$ 3 trillion annually.
• Key challenges include limited long-term efficacy and safety data, high costs, and health system readiness, with fewer than 10% of eligible individuals expected to have access by 2030.
• The WHO also warns of a growing market for falsified GLP-1 products, urging strict regulatory oversight and international cooperation.