WHO Issues First Guidance on Using GLP-1 Drugs to Treat Obesity

Key Takeaways

Obesity affects over 1 billion people worldwide and is tied to 3.7 million deaths in 2024

WHO’s first guideline on obesity care supports GLP-1 medications for long-term treatment in adults

WHO warns that drugs alone are not enough and stresses the need for greater access, affordability and lifelong support for obesity

TUESDAY, Dec. 2, 2025 (HealthDay News) — The World Health Organization (WHO) released its first-ever guideline on using GLP-1 medications to treat obesity.

The disease now affects more than 1 billion people worldwide and is tied to 3.7 million deaths in 2024.

The new recommendations reflect a major change in how obesity is viewed and treated.

The WHO classifies obesity as a chronic, relapsing condition that often needs long-term care, including medicati