Filenews 3 December 2025 - by Marilena Panayi
After almost five years of discussions, studies, disagreements, recommendations and many billions to develop new formulations, the World Health Organization has issued the first global guideline for the use of GLP-1 therapies to treat obesity.
In fact, the WHO recommendations concern three specific substances which are contained in a total of six preparations that until now were intended, some strictly, only for diabetes. These are the substances liraglutide (preparations: Saxenda / Victoza), semaglutide (preparations: Wegovy / Ozempic) and tirzepatide (preparations: Zepbound / Mounjaro).
The first two substances are GLP-1 agonists, while tirzepatide is a dual GIP/GLP-1 agonist, however it is included in the guideline, as it is used for the long-term treatment of obesity.
The announcement comes at a time when more than a billion people are living with obesity and as the world organization points out, without decisive action, this number is expected to double by 2030. In 2024, obesity was linked to 3.7 million deaths worldwide.
The WHO recalls that in September 2025, GLP-1 treatments had been added to the list of essential drugs for the management of type 2 diabetes in high-risk groups.
A prerequisite. With the new directive, the Agency makes "conditional" recommendations for the use of these treatments in obesity as well, stressing, however, that a "comprehensive approach" is required which must include a healthy diet, regular physical activity and support from health professionals.
As WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in his statement, this guidance recognizes that obesity "is a chronic disease that can be treated with comprehensive and lifelong care", while underlining that "drugs alone will not solve the global health crisis".
The WHO emphasizes that obesity is an important factor in the development of serious diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer, while it also contributes to a worse outcome of some infections.
In its directive, the WHO underlines that "the effective treatment of obesity requires a comprehensive strategy, which includes the creation of healthier environments, the protection of high-risk people and access to lifelong, person-centered care".
These treatments, the relevant announcement emphasizes, can be given to adults, excluding pregnant women. "Despite their proven effectiveness in weight loss and improving metabolic markers, the recommendation remains, conditionally, due to limited data on long-term safety, high costs and insufficient preparedness of many health systems."
Its global economic costs are projected to reach $3 trillion annually by 2030, with the WHO warning of a potential "increase in counterfeit and substandard GLP-1 products due to high demand" and calling for "strict oversight, regulated distribution and international cooperation to protect public health".
